UALE Awards

UALE gives out awards for outstanding achievements by practitioners in our field of labor education. The intent is to generate interest and active participation on the part of UALE members in recognizing the best practices and products coming out of the field.

The award categories are:

  1. Lifetime Achievement Award for an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of labor education over the course of their lifetime;
  2. NEW IN 2025: Nelson Mandela Award for Advancing Human Rights to recognize a labor education initiative that raises consciousness and contributes to struggles against racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, and other forms of oppression and discrimination;
  3. Best Book published in the previous two years related to the field of labor education;
  4. New Generation Award for the best first paper presentation for a labor educator who is presenting for the first time at a UALE conference and is new to labor education;
  5. Best Article in Labor Studies Journal published in the previous year; and
  6. NEW IN 2025: Curriculum Award for the designer(s) of a workshop, lesson, or program that uses new topics and/or formats to educate workers;
  7. NEW IN 2025: Creative Expression Award for an individual’s artistic contribution to labor education.

We present these awards at our biennial conference. Nominations for all awards close on January 31, 2025.

2025 UALE Awards

This award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of labor education over the course of his or her lifetime. We are intentionally leaving the description open in order to encourage UALE members to think broadly of individuals who have contributed in different ways. Nominations may be made here. After the close of nominations, the UALE Executive Board determines the recipient.

By awarding the Nelson Mandela Award for Advancing Human Rights at each annual conference, the UALE will recognize a labor education initiative that raises consciousness and contributes to struggles against racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, and other forms of oppression and discrimination.  This award is one way in which UALE seeks to uplift this work within higher education, community-based organizations, and unions. 
Nominations may be made here and should include a short description of the initiative (500 words) noting the target audience, objectives, and outcomes. Outcomes should describe how the initiative has served to transform your organization or audience. 
After the close of nominations, a ballot will be circulated for a vote to the UALE membership prior to the conference.

The UALE Book Award recognizes a book published during the previous 2-year period that is especially valuable for labor education. It is for a book that represents responsible scholarship, new ideas, creative thinking, and intellectual contribution to the labor movement, the broader workers’ movement, labor economics, labor history, politics, culture, or any other topic related to work or labor. It should be a book that can be or is used in an educational setting. Learn more about the Best Book award.

By awarding the New Generation Award at each annual conference, the UALE seeks to encourage emerging labor scholars, teachers, students, researchers, and multimedia producers. Labor Education and Labor Studies need a new cadre of 21st century innovators and leaders! This award is one way in which UALE seeks to support this development from within higher education, community-based organizations, and unions. Learn more about the New Generation Award.

This award is given to the article that not only was well-researched, argues, and written, but also resonates deeply with issues related to labor studies. It is awarded to an article published in the previous two years. The Labor Studies Journal Best Article Award is chosen by the Labor Studies Journal editorial board from among those nominated by the LSJ Board.

This award will honor the designer(s) of a workshop, lesson, or program that uses new topics and/or formats to educate workers. The work must be created/implemented between April 1, 2023 and April 1, 2025.
Nominations should be submitted by January 31, 2025 here and must include a short description of the initiative (500 words) noting the target audience, learning objectives, location(s) where it was used, and outcomes. Outcomes should describe how the initiative has served to transform your organization or audience. Please include the actual curriculum outline.
After the close of nominations, nominations will be reviewed by UALE Committee and Awardee selected by the UALE Board. We will announce the prize at our annual conference that will take place on April 6-9, 202

This award will recognize an individual’s artistic contribution to Labor Education. It could be the use of music, artwork, poetry, or other mediums to augment the learning experience. This award honors a piece of creative work published or distributed between April 1, 2023 and April 1, 2025. 
Nominations should be submitted by January 31, 2025 here and must include a short description of the initiative (500 words) noting the target audience, objectives, and outcomes. Include an explanation of how and where the artwork was used, as well as the name of the artist (if any).
After the close of nominations, nominations will be reviewed by UALE Committee and Awardee selected by the UALE Board. We will announce the prize at our annual conference that will take place on April 6-9, 2025.

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