Vlastimila (Vlasta) Dvořáková International Ambassador Service Award

The Vlastimila (Vlasta) Dvořáková International Ambassador Service Award is given to those who have promoted growth and awareness of the AAPG internationally and created opportunities for the Association to reach a wider audience of geoscientists. This award will help recognize the importance of AAPG volunteers who promote the mission of services and products of the Association, who foster cooperation with other geoscience organizations, as well as growing the organization and its cultural and ethnical diversity.

Nominations for all awards are currently closed and will open again in early 2027.

Nominations are now open

Submit your nominations today to recognize outstanding contributions. This is your chance to
highlight individuals or groups making a difference.

Recent Recipients

John Kaldi
John Kaldi
2024 Winner
David Cook
David Cook
2024 Winner
Victor Vega
Victor Vega
2024 Winner
William Bosworth
William Bosworth
2023 Winner
Peter Grant
Peter Grant
2021 Winner

Recipients by Year

YearRecipient
2024John Kaldi, David Cook, Victor Vega
2023William Bosworth
2021Peter Grant
2020Gabor Tari
2019Charles Caughey
2018Gilbert Odior, David Blanchard

Nomination Guidelines

Restrictions

The recipient must be a Member of the Association. A candidate must be living at the time of selection and willing to be present to receive the medal and certificate at the time and place designated by the Executive Committee, normally at the Annual Convention. The recipient is ineligible for consideration or receipt of the Michel T. Halbouty Outstanding Leadership Award.

Guidelines for Consideration of Candidates

Consideration should emphasize contributions to petroleum geology – not necessarily service to the Association. Contributions may have been in a variety of forms or combinations, such as a significant development in geologic concepts, advancement in discovery thinking, leadership in exploration and the development of explorationists, inspiration and academic preparation of petroleum geologists, etc. Publication is not a necessary criterion; it is recognized that in today’s competitive world, publication may not be feasible for many very able explorationists.

Honorary Membership is not a prerequisite for consideration, but it may serve as a useful checklist for potential candidates.

Procedure for Recommendation

Nominations for this award should be submitted, along with documentation, to the Chairman of the Honors and Awards Committee at Association Headquarters. The Committee’s recommendations will be submitted to the Advisory Council, which in turn will submit its selection to the Executive Committee for final action.

Description of Award

The gold plated medal features a bas-relief likeness of Sidney Powers and the name of the Association on the obverse side. On the reverse side are inscribed the words, “Awarded for Distinguished Achievement in Petroleum Geology,” along with the name of the recipient. The medal is mounted in multi-sided acrylic and is presented along with an embossed certificate and a lapel pin tack. Honorary Membership is automatically bestowed upon recipients of the Sidney Powers Memorial Award, if they have not already received that honor.

History

The Powers Medal was first awarded in 1945 to Wallace E. Pratt.

Sidney Powers was a founding member and 14th President of the Association. He died in 1932 at the age of 42. Frank R. Clark, in his memorial to Sidney Powers said, “Sidney Powers will be known by future generations for his able contributions to pure and applied geology, but, important as are his scientific achievements, his character was greater, because it typified service to others.”

Funding

The AAPG provides funding for the Sidney Powers Memorial Award.

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