Abel Wolman Award of Excellence

About this program

The Abel Wolman Award of Excellence, offered by the American Water Works Association, annually recognizes water works professionals whose careers exemplify vision, creativity and outstanding professional performance; the 2025 recipient is Kelley Dearing Smith. The non‑monetary award includes an engraved sculpture and exemption from AWWA membership dues. Eligible nominees must be AWWA individual members or duly appointed representatives of AWWA organizational members with at least 20 years of career performance; nominations must be submitted by an AWWA section or the awards committee by November 1 using the AWWA entry form and may remain under consideration for up to three years. Required materials include a color portrait, a career review, examples of accomplishments, and endorsement letters from the section chair, three past Fuller Awardees, a regulatory agency executive, an active water utility manager outside the nominee’s organization, and a member of a consulting firm; selection is made by the five most recent Past Presidents and reported to the Board for approval.