WPI Awards were established by the Board of Directors to recognize the activities and accomplishments of the Association’s members, volunteers, and stakeholders.
The following awards may be presented at Innovation in Certification – WPI’s Annual Conference and Trainers Workshop. Unless otherwise noted, each award is limited to one per year.
Harris F. Seidel Lifetime Achievement Award
The Harris F. Seidel Lifetime Achievement Award is the premier award issued by the Association and is presented to an individual in recognition of outstanding lifetime contribution toward advancing the cause of certifying environmental professionals. The recipient need not be an operator or a member of a certification board or committee.
The nomination criteria are:
- The individual shall have contributed through time and effort, innovative and successful approaches, leadership, development of materials, or a combination of any of these.
- The contributions shall be of regional, national, or international scope, and of lasting value in enhancing and verifying the knowledge and performance of environmental professionals resulting in a more highly qualified workforce.
Harris Seidel’s contributions date back to 1972, the Association’s first year. He is a Past-Chair of the Association (1972-73) and a past president of the Water Environment Federation (1963-64). Mr. Seidel previously served on the Iowa Joint Board of Certification and was the Director of Water and Pollution Control for the City of Ames, Iowa from 1954-1991.
Certification Program Award
The Certification Program Award is presented to a member certifying authority in recognition of outstanding contribution toward establishing or advancing the certification of environmental professionals.
The nomination criteria are:
- The member certifying authority shall have contributed through time and effort, innovative and successful approaches, leadership, development of materials, or a combination of any of these.
- The contributions shall be of state/provincial, regional, national, or international scope, and of lasting value in enhancing and verifying the knowledge and performance of environmental professionals resulting in a more highly qualified workforce.
Robert C. McAnespie Outstanding Certification Officer Award
The Robert C. McAnespie Outstanding Certification Officer Award is presented to a member certification officer for their outstanding contribution toward establishing or advancing certification.
The nomination criteria are:
- The certification officer shall have contributed through time and effort, innovative and successful approaches, leadership, development of materials, or a combination of any of these.
- The contributions shall be of lasting value in improved performance by a more highly qualified workforce in their program.
Robert McAnespie was a wastewater operator certification administrator in Massachusetts from the early ’70s through the early ’90s and served as WPI Chair in 1988. He was an ardent supporter of the Association and was active in developing early exam development workgroups. He encouraged the Association to be inclusive of those programs offering environmental control certification and was a proponent of the Association fostering collaboration between these programs while developing high-quality certification exams.
Jess Jones Excellence in Service Award
The Jess Jones Excellence in Service Award is presented to a volunteer, or group of volunteers, in recognition of outstanding service to the Association. No recipient need be a member of the Association or an operator or a member of a certification board or committee. The award is limited to two per year.
Each recipient shall have contributed to the Association through time and effort, innovative and successful approaches, leadership, development of materials, or a combination of any of these.
Jess Jones retired from the City of Cincinnati Water Works as Assistant Superintendent after 30 years of public service and served as chair of the Association’s Distribution Validation & Examination Committee for six consecutive years. He was extensively involved in the Association and readily shared his enthusiasm for the Association with others. In 2008, he was recognized for his service and dedication to advancing water quality and integrity with the Association’s Excellence in Service Award.
Dr. Kenneth D. Kerri Excellence in Workforce Development Award
The Kenneth D. Kerri Excellence in Workforce Development Award is presented to an individual or group who has gone beyond the call of duty to advance the water/wastewater operating profession with the aim of educating, encouraging, and recruiting future generations to pursue the water environment profession.
The recipient shall:
- Be an educator, educational institution, association, state/provincial official, operator, manager, or other person or entity that furthers the career pathway of operators.
- Have contributed through time and effort, innovative and successful approaches, leadership, development of materials, or a combination of any of these.
- Have made contributions that are national or international in scope, and of lasting value in enhancing and verifying the knowledge and performance of environmental professionals and/or building a career path to the water environment profession for future generations.
- Have numerous years of service to the industry and be a demonstrated person or organization of character.
Dr. Kenneth D. Kerri was known for a great many things: his founding of California State University, Sacramento’s (CSUS) Office of Water Programs in 1972; the nearly 40 years he spent at the University as a beloved professor and mentor; his world-renowned operator and manager training manuals affectionately known as the “Kerri Courses;” his many awards and recognitions, including induction into the WEF Fellows Program, and receipt of the Sacramento State Alumni Association’s Distinguished Faculty Award; his dedication to furthering the education and certification of operators through his work as WPI’s Chair in 1983; and countless other achievements.
