Nominations
The Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards in Swiftwater Rescue honor outstanding achievement in the technical rescue discipline of swiftwater and flood rescue.
The awards are not intended as a recognition of heroism only. They acknowledge individuals and swiftwater rescue teams that have:
Utilized swiftwater rescue in lifesaving efforts
Increased awareness about the need for swiftwater and flood rescue training
Promoted worldwide swiftwater rescue training, standards, and certification
Inspired other agencies to develop viable water rescue programs
These attributes should be highly considered in the creation of a submission package.
Award Categories
There are five categories a team or individual may be recognized with an award:
Outstanding Achievement Award: This award recognizes excellence in swiftwater and flood rescue. It signifies an intense dedication to the field and a genuine desire to benefit the larger community responsible for the service. Safety, competence, and far reaching impact are key criteria. Typically only one award is presented in any calendar year.
Program and Team Development Award: Presented to individuals or agencies that commit time, resources, education, and training for successful swiftwater and flood rescue team development. The program must reflect excellence and defines state-of-the-art advancement for swiftwater and flood rescue. Program model exemplifies the science and safety of water rescue. Long-range outcomes are a fundamental criterion. Multiple awards may be presented in any calendar year.
Incident Award: A specific water rescue, recovery operation, or prolonged mission that clearly demonstrates outstanding training, skill and preparedness in a swiftwater or flood rescue. Incident nomination can be individual, multiple individuals, and/or teams. Multiple awards may be presented in a calendar year.
Special Commendation Award: Recognizes the breadth of possible contribution in the field of swiftwater and flood rescue. The award can be for media contribution, product innovations, strategic planning, individual heroism, esprit de corps, or recommendation by the Higgins and Langley Board of Directors. Multiple awards may be presented in a calendar year.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Reserved for those few individuals who (because of their work, actions, influence, and dedication) make a significant and lasting impact in the field of swiftwater and flood rescue. Criteria include time-honored or notable results. Lifetime Achievement Awards represent the pinnacle accomplishment for an individual’s career.
Awards Ceremony
The Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards are presented at a special ceremony each year to honor these individuals, teams, and organizations.
The awards ceremony changes location and venue periodically, with the 2025 & 2026 ceremonies taking place at the Oklahoma Swiftwater Conference held in August
Higgins and Langley Award Nomination
Before filling out this form please carefully read the following awards criteria.
VALIDATE WITH THE AGENCY PERMISSION TO SUBMIT NOMINATION as some have specific guidelines that must be followed.
To assist with the validation of the incident, eligibility of the nominee/team, and type and level of award nomination, please complete all information below. Please gather detailed support documentation such as:
reports
news articles
photo and video content, interviews
social media links
Statements & affidavits should contain details and facts that clearly show the manner and extent of the extraordinary effort.
Provide witness names
Persons rendering assistance during the incident and all
Pertinent circumstances and data showing the precise nature and level of competence involved.
Additional information/attachments should be emailed.
The Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards Board will confer an award strictly based on submitted information. Lack of complete or invalid information may delay or deter the Board’s decision. The H&L Board has final discretion to accept applications, change the category or not confer an award if they feel a submission does not merit recognition.
Elegibility
Although each category recognizes a different facet of swiftwater or flood rescue, to be considered all awardees must meet the following:
Worldwide Individuals & teams are eligible.
Swiftwater and flood rescue training used by participating personnel must meet internationally recognized standards, or be equivalent to recognized standards in cases where such training is not readily available.
Recipient(s) must reflect a high standard of integrity, safety, training, equipment, preparedness and dedication in relationship to available resources, utilizing them to effect or attempt to effect rescues of persons and/or animals in distress.
Anyone who expands the knowledge for other personnel, teams, units, agencies or the community about the importance of swiftwater and flood water safety, training, and preparedness.
Incident Awards are limited to those conducted during the previous calendar year; certain exceptions may be considered. Other awards often span careers and agency program development timelines.
Information submitted must be complete and spelled accurately as this is what will be used on the award certificates and publication. All information for nominees must be accurately completed including additional pages for other parties or team members. Any errors or oversights resulting in the need to replace or reprint certificates or other awards will be covered by the submitting agency, including shipping and handling.
If selected for an award, the primary point of contact (Submitting Person) will be notified by H&L Board of Directors. It is the responsibility of the NOMINATOR to contact all other representatives.
This award recognizes excellence in swiftwater and flood rescue. It signifies an intense dedication to the field and a genuine desire to benefit the larger community responsible for the service. Safety, competence, and far reaching impact are key criteria. Typically only one award is presented in any calendar year.
Nomination Forms
Presented to individuals or agencies that commit time, resources, education, and training for successful swiftwater and flood rescue team development. The program must reflect excellence and defines state-of-the-art advancement for swiftwater and flood rescue. Program model exemplifies the science and safety of water rescue. Long-range outcomes are a fundamental criterion. Multiple awards may be presented in any calendar year.
Presented to recognize the breadth of possible contribution in the field of swiftwater and flood rescue. The award can be for media contribution, product innovations, strategic planning, individual heroism, esprit de corps, or recommendation by the Higgins and Langley Board of Directors. Multiple awards may be presented in a calendar year.
These awards recognize a specific water rescue, recovery operation, or prolonged mission that clearly demonstrates outstanding training, skill and preparedness in a swiftwater or flood rescue. Incident nomination can be for an individual, multiple individuals, and/or teams. Multiple awards may be presented in a calendar year.
This award is reserved for those few individuals who (because of their work, actions, influence, and dedication) make a significant and lasting impact in the field of swiftwater and flood rescue. Criteria include making time-honored or notable results. Lifetime Achievement Awards represent the pinnacle accomplishment for an individual’s career.
Contact us
Have questions about the nomination process? Send us a message and one of the board will reach back out to you as soon as possible.