IPLSA offers awards and scholarships for students, surveyors and other individuals in the surveying profession. Below is a listing and brief purpose of each award. To review the full requirements, please visit the links below. Award submissions are evaluated by a committee of Professional Land Surveyors. Awards are presented at the IPLSA Annual Conference, held in February of each year.
Please note: Applications are due by January 6th of each year unless otherwise noted on the application. ​​
​The Albert H. "Pat" Patterson Surveyor of the Year Award
The Albert H. “Pat” Patterson Award is presented to a person who has been a mentor to many people who became licensed land surveyors.  This award is presented to an individual who has been an IPLSA member for at least 10 years and has shown outstanding performance in the following ways: Consistent involvement in local and state meetings; demonstrated the ability to enhance the land surveying profession by tutoring new surveyors; and emphasizes continuing education that improves the profession.
Award Recipients
The Carter Jenkins Distinguished Service Award
This award is presented to a member who has served the Association and profession with outstanding service.
​The recipient of this award is someone who:
1. Conceived and promoted ideas to enhance the profession and Association, or their image.
2. Worked consistently with outstanding service to uphold, strengthen or expand the goals and purpose of the Association and profession.
3. Has been successful in attaining or completing tasks and goals established by and of significance or benefit to the Association and profession.
Award Recipients
​Young Surveyor of the Year Award
This award recognizes young IPLSA members who have made outstanding contributions to the land surveying profession and their communities during the early years of their careers.
Award Recipients
​Legislator of the Year Award
The Legislator of the Year Award is presented to a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois Senate, United States House of Representatives, or United States Senate who has rendered significant service to the profession or Association.
Award Recipients
William M. Heffernan Article of the Year Award
The William M. Heffernan Article of the Year Award of the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association was established to promote study, research and education in the field of Land Surveying.
​Honorary Membership Award
The Honorary Membership Award is presented to any person, who is not an Illinois surveyor, who has rendered significant service to the profession or Association.
Honorary Members
​Life Membership Award
This award is presented to an active member of IPLSA who has attained a mature status in life, rendered outstanding service to the land surveying profession, and is a member in good standing for the past 15 years.
Lifetime Members
​The Eldridge Award
The Eldridge Award of the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association was established to revere the memory of the late Professor Winfield Eldridge and to promote study, research and education in the field of Land Surveying. Professor Eldridge was a motivating force in the revitalization of the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association and was a member of the Surveying Staff of the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Past Awards
IPLSA Past Licensing Board Member Award     |     Award Recipients
​Dick Bales was honored with Special Recognition in 2022 for an outstanding impact in the surveying field.
​ © Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association
100 East Washington Street  |  Springfield, IL 62701
Phone: 217.528.3053  |  Fax: 217.528.6545​
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