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.
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 next awards ceremony taking place at the Oklahoma Swiftwater Conference in August 2027
Guidelines for the Higgins & Langley Memorial Awards
The Higgins & Langley Memorial Awards for Swiftwater Rescue honor outstanding achievement in swiftwater and flood rescue worldwide. They recognize more than heroism. They honor individuals and teams who:
Use swiftwater rescue skills to save lives
Raise awareness of the need for swiftwater and flood rescue training
Promote rescue training, standards, and certification worldwide
Inspire other agencies to build effective water rescue programs
Strong nominations show how the nominee meets these goals.
| Award | What It Recognizes | Awards per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Achievement | Excellence and deep dedication to swiftwater and flood rescue that benefits the wider community. Key criteria: safety, competence, and far-reaching impact. | Typically one |
| Program & Team Development | Individuals or agencies that invest time, resources, education, and training to build excellent, state-of-the-art rescue teams grounded in the science and safety of water rescue. Key criterion: long-range outcomes. | Multiple |
| Incident | A specific rescue, recovery, or prolonged mission that shows outstanding training, skill, and preparedness. Open to individuals, groups, or teams. | Multiple |
| Special Commendation | Broader contributions to the field, such as media work, product innovation, strategic planning, individual heroism, esprit de corps, or recommendation by the H&L Board. | Multiple |
| Lifetime Achievement | Individuals whose work, influence, and dedication have made a significant, lasting impact on the field. The highest honor of a career. | Reserved for a few |
Eligibility
All nominees must meet these requirements:
Open worldwide to individuals and teams.
Recognized training: Personnel must be trained to internationally recognized standards, or equivalent where such training isn’t readily available.
High standards: Nominees must show integrity, safety, training, equipment, preparedness, and dedication, making the best use of available resources to rescue (or attempt to rescue) people or animals in distress.
Education counts: Anyone who expands others’ knowledge of swiftwater and flood safety, training, and preparedness is eligible.
Timing: Incident Awards cover incidents from the previous calendar year (exceptions may be considered). Other awards may span a career or program history.
Before You Nominate
1. Get agency permission. Confirm the agency approves the nomination. Some agencies have their own guidelines that must be followed.
2. Gather supporting documentation, such as:
Incident reports and news articles
Photos, video, and interviews
Social media links
Statements and affidavits with specific facts showing the nature and extent of the effort
Names of witnesses and everyone who assisted
Circumstances and data showing the level of skill involved
Email any additional attachments after submitting the form.
3. Double-check every name and detail. Information is printed exactly as submitted on certificates and publications. Include extra pages for all team members and other parties. The submitting agency pays for any reprints or replacements caused by errors, including shipping.
How Awards Are Decided
The H&L Board decides based only on the information submitted. Incomplete or invalid information may delay or prevent an award. The Board has final discretion to accept a nomination, change its category, or decline to give an award.
If Your Nominee Is Selected
The Board will notify the Submitting Person (primary contact). The nominator is responsible for notifying all other team members and representatives.
2027 Awards Ceremony
Awards are presented at an annual ceremony that changes location periodically. The 2027 ceremony will be held at the Oklahoma Swiftwater Conference in August 2027.
Start your nomination below
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 how to submit a nomination? Send us a message and a board member will get back to you as soon as possible.