Annual Awards
Each year, the Hampton Roads Chapter of ASPA gives three awards to outstanding local public administrators and a scholarship to an outstanding student in the field of public administration. These prestigious awards bear the namesakes of two distinguished Hampton Roads Public Administrators and one Academician.
The JULIAN F. HIRST AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE will be awarded to a Hampton Roads Public Administrator who is 35 years old or older and best exemplifies the criteria set forth for distinguished service in public administration. The award is named after Julian F. Hirst who served as City Manager of Norfolk from 1975 until retirement in 1985. His experience and dedication as a Virginia public administrator extends beyond Hampton Roads. A native of Purcellville, Virginia, Mr. Hirst also served as Town Manager for Pearisburg and Pulaski. In addition, he served as City Manager for Martinsville and Roanoke. His role as Executive Director of the Virginia Municipal League further enriched his public administration career. As a resident of Norfolk, Mr. Hirst influence continues throughout the community.
The GEORGE ROBERT HOUSE, JR. AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE will be awarded to a Hampton Roads Public Administrator who is less than 35 years of age and has demonstrated the key characteristics outlined in the award criteria. The award is named after George Robert House, Jr. who served as City Manager of Bedford, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk and Portsmouth in addition to two managerial posts in North Carolina. In a May/June 1990 Virginia Review article entitled, "Statesmanship, Leadership, Mentorship: The Bob House Era of Excellence," Mr. House's contributions are well documented. He was tragically killed in an airplane crash in 1982, but his influence continues to persist through the numerous public administrators he mentored.
The recipients of these awards must meet the following criteria:
- Record of outstanding performance in public service.
- Unusual leadership, creativity, integrity, and response to challenge.
- Dedication to democratic ideals.
- Sensitivity to the need to adapt government to changing problems.
- Commitment to professionalism and development of useful skills.
DR. WOLFGANG PINDUR AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN ACADEMIA AND PRACTICE
Each year, the Hampton Roads Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) likes to recognize an outstanding public administrator in the area of academia. The Dr. Wolfgang Pindur Award for Distinguished Service in Academia and Practice is given to an outstanding public administrator in the field of higher education. Criteria include a record of outstanding performance in public service, linking the academic world to the practitioner, dedication to democratic ideals and conducting research directly benefiting the public.
STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP - $500 - $1,000
Each year, the Hampton Roads Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) likes to identify a student for educational assistance in pursuing a degree in public service. The ASPA Scholarship is granted to an exceptional student in public administration with the following qualifications: Minimum grade point average in major field or graduate studies of 3.0; enrolled in a course offered by an institution with a presence in Hampton Roads; undergraduate and graduate student; a minimum of 60 hours of undergraduate college credit completed for undergraduate applicants; Hampton Roads ASPA Chapter member; resident of Virginia; and has not been awarded a scholarship by the chapter in the past.