All ABC Awards

All award nominations are due June 1, 2026.

Some of ABC's highest honors are awarded to members selected by the Nominating Committee. 

Fellow of the Association
For extraordinary excellence in the discipline of business communication

Distinguished Member Award
For long-term service to the Association and the business communication discipline

Francis W. Weeks Award of Merit
For contributions to the profession and advancement in the business communication discipline

ABC Rising Star Award
For members with fewer than 10 years with the Association for meaningful contributions to the mission, membership, and discipline

Bernadine P. Branchaw Spirit of ABC Award 
For exceptional members of ABC who exemplify friendliness and openness to newcomers and current members

Awards
Awards
Awards

Research and Teaching Awards

Kitty O. Locker Outstanding Researcher Award
For research that has made an outstanding contribution to the business communication discipline

Meada Gibbs Outstanding Teacher-Scholar Award
For teaching that has made an outstanding contribution to the business communication discipline

Innovation in Teaching Business Communication Award
For exceptional creativity and forward-thinking approaches that enhance learning and engagement in the business communication classroom

Outstanding Research in International or Intercultural Business Communication Award
For research that has made an outstanding contribution to the field of international or intercultural business communication

Innovative Teaching in International or Intercultural Business Communication Award
For teaching practices that demonstrate exceptional innovation in international or intercultural business communication education

Student Case Competition
For the faculty member who wrote the winning case and for the faculty sponsor of the first-place student winner.

Awards
Awards
Awards

Consulting and Service Awards

Award for Excellence in Communication Consulting
For the impact of effective professional communication consulting on the corporate, government, and nonprofit worlds—and on the Association

Community Perspectives and Practice Award
For practices fostering community outreach outside the classroom

Awards
Awards
Awards

Research Grants

Priscilla S. Rogers and C. R. Anderson Research Grants
Financial support for innovative business communication research

Marty Baker Graham Research Awards
Financial support for doctoral students engaged in business communication research

Awards
Awards
Awards
Awards
Awards
Awards

Student Awards

Student Case Competition 
For the first-, second-, and third-place written case submissions.

Student Travel Grants
To support graduate and undergraduate students who will deliver a presentation at the Annual International or a Regional Conference.

Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation on Business Communication
For an outstanding dissertation or thesis in the area of business communication written as part of a doctoral program.