2023 Excel Awards
Brought to you by the American Association of Medical Assistants®, the Excel Awards bring recognition to the most excellent publications, promotions, people, and more!
Submission Information
The submission window for entries into the 2023 Excel Awards is now open!
Entries remain limited to those that were produced and presented in final form between June 1, 2022, and June 1, 2023.
Read on to find the information you need, or click below to jump to a certain section.
Eligibility and Requirements
State Society Excellence Awards Categories
Awards of Distinction
Student Essay Competition
Medical Assistant Employer of the Year Award
2022 Excel Awards: Winners and Info
Your Reward
Award winners are formally saluted at an awards ceremony held during the 66th AAMA Annual Conference.
All winners will be recognized on the AAMA website and in CMA Today, the association's official publication.
Eligibility
Entries that were produced and presented in final form between June 1, 2022, and June 1, 2023, are eligible. The submitters, nominators, and nominees must be AAMA members.
Nominees must be the following for their respective Excel Award category:
- Excellence Awards: AAMA state societies
- Note: AAMA chapters are ineligible for these awards. Submissions on behalf of a chapter are automatically disqualified.
- Restrictions: Only one submission per state society will be eligible for an Excel or Achievement Award. If multiple submissions for a single state society are received, either by the same person or multiple people, only the highest performing submission will be accepted by the Awards Committee after judging and the lowest performing submission(s) will not receive either an Excel or Achievement Award.
- Awards of Distinction: Individuals who are both AAMA members and CMAs (AAMA)®
- Restrictions:
- Submitting for same winning nominee for the same award. Distinction winners can only win the award once. Repeat nominations for the same award are automatically disqualified.
- Submitting for the same winning nominee for a different award. Distinction winners are ineligible for a different Distinction Award until three years has passed since their win.
- Submitting a nomination for an AAMA BOT member. Currently serving BOT members are ineligible for the Awards of Distinction.
- Student Essay Competition: Individuals who are medical assisting students of CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited programs
- Medical Assistant Employer of the Year Awards: Medical practices, facilities, and health systems
Submission Policies for All Awards
Members of the AAMA Board of Trustees cannot do the following:
- Submit any entries on behalf of their state society for any of the State Society Excellence Awards
- Submit a nomination for any of the Awards of Distinction or the Medical Assistant Employer of the Year Awards
- Write a letter of recommendation for any of the Awards of Distinction, the Medical Assistant Employer of the Year Awards, and the student essay competition
These submissions will be automatically disqualified.
Judging
The AAMA Awards Committee will judge the entries in the following categories:
- Excellence in Publishing
- Excellence in Marketing, Promotion, and Recruitment
- Excellence in Website Development
- Excellence in Community Service
- Awards of Distinction
- Student Essay Competition
- Medical Assistant Employer of the Year
Membership awards will be calculated by the Membership Department and certification awards will be calculated by the Certification Department.
The publishing, marketing, website development, community service, membership, and certification awards will be judged based on the number of members in the state society as of Jan. 1, 2023:
Section A = 200 members or fewer
Section B = 201–500 members
Section C = 501–800 members
Section D = 801 members or more |
Findings of the judges are subject to review by the AAMA Board of Trustees. The decision of the judges is final and the judges reserve the right to grant no award if there are no entries of sufficient merit. Judging materials and individual scoring decisions are confidential.
Entry Deadline
Entries must be postmarked or emailed no later than
- July 15 for the Distinction, Medical Assistant Employer of the Year, and student competition awards
- Aug. 1 for the State Society Excellence Awards
There will be no extensions to the deadline and no exceptions will be made. Incomplete entries will be automatically disqualified.
Entry Preparation
Excel Award entries may be submitted electronically or by mail. Unlike previous years, print newsletters can be scanned and emailed or mailed.
Entries that do not meet all the submission requirements will be automatically disqualified.
Email Entries
Be sure your submission includes the completed entry form. (Use a separate form for each entry.) Ensure that all required materials are attached to your email.
Once the submission entry window opens, you can email submissions to the Awards Committee liaisons in the AAMA Marketing and Communications Department.
Mail-in Entries
Package entries carefully. The AAMA is not responsible for entries that are lost or damaged in the mail. All entries become the property of the AAMA, so do not send irreplaceable items.
Mail-in entries must include these items:
- A copy of the completed official entry form. (Use a separate form for each entry.)
- Copies of all relevant entry materials, as listed under each category description. Include your state society's name and entry category on each entry item.
Ship to the following address:
AAMA Excel Awards
20 N. Wacker Dr., Ste. 1575
Chicago, IL 60606
Entrants will receive an acknowledgement message verifying the receipt of their entries by the AAMA office.
Note: AAMA staff who collect mailed Excel entries will have limited access to the mail. If possible, please choose the email method of submission instead.
For Further Information
If you have any questions about the Excel Awards, email MarCom@aama-ntl.org.
Excellence in Publishing
Including e-Newsletters
Recognizes the best state society newsletters, or e-newsletters, and editors.
Judging Criteria
Entries are judged on content (including national, state, and chapter news items, educational pieces, and information on continuing education), frequency, editing, writing, and design.
What to Submit
- Completed entry form
- Copies of each issue published between June 1, 2022, and June 1, 2023
Excellence in Publishing entries may be submitted electronically or by mail. Unlike previous years, print newsletters can be scanned and emailed or mailed.
Mail-in entries must include five copies of the entry form and all relevant materials.
Incomplete entries will be automatically disqualified.
Excellence in Marketing, Promotion, and Recruitment
Including Social Media
Recognizes the best state society campaign for such activities as recruiting members; promoting the CMA (AAMA) and the association; and marketing a special event (e.g., Medical Assistants Recognition Week or a state meeting).
Judging Criteria
Entries are judged on creativity, marketing medium (including print, electronic, and social media), general impact, and success in meeting the stated objectives. Printed pieces are judged on effectiveness, writing, and design.
What to Submit
- Completed entry form
- Samples of all relevant, printed campaign pieces, such as brochures, posters, flyers, electronic communications, and social media messaging
- Typewritten copy of a summary (400 to 500 words) describing the following:
- Event or activity
- Campaign goals
- Intended audience(s)
- What results were achieved
Mail-in entries must include five copies of the entry form and all relevant materials.
Emailed-in entries of the typewritten summary are preferred as Word docs, but PDFs will be accepted.
Incomplete entries will be automatically disqualified.
Excellence in Website Development
Recognizes the best state society websites and web chairs.
Judging Criteria
Entries are judged on overall effectiveness, including navigation, and functionality, content, design, and marketing.
What to Submit
- Completed entry form
- Website URL
- Typewritten copy of a summary (400 to 500 words) describing the following:
- Website goals
- Intended audience(s)
- How the website has been marketed
- How the website was developed
- What changes, if any, have been made in the past year to improve the website
Mail-in entries must include five copies of the entry form and all relevant materials.
Emailed-in entries of the typewritten summary are preferred as Word docs, but PDFs will be accepted.
Incomplete entries will be automatically disqualified.
Excellence in Community Service
Including Social Media
Recognizes the best state society health-related community service programs (e.g., health awareness walks or events, blood drives, and food drives).
Judging Criteria
Entries are judged on the program, including creativity, marketing medium (including print, electronic, and social media), general impact, and success in meeting the stated objectives for the program. Printed pieces are judged on effectiveness, writing, and design.
What to Submit
- Completed entry form
- Samples of all relevant, printed campaign pieces, such as brochures, posters, flyers, electronic communications, and social media messaging
- Typewritten copy of a summary (400 to 500 words) describing the following:
- Event or activity
- Campaign goals
- Intended audience(s)
- What results were achieved
Mail-in entries must include five copies of the entry form and all relevant materials.
Emailed-in entries of the typewritten summary are preferred as Word docs, but PDFs will be accepted.
Incomplete entries will be automatically disqualified.
Awards of Distinction
Honoring National Leadership
Does someone you know deserve distinctive recognition for their professional contributions and national AAMA service? The AAMA Awards of Distinction are designed to recognize these individuals. Any AAMA member is eligible to nominate or be nominated for one or more award (except current AAMA Board of Trustees members). Selection will favor those who have served on the national level. To enter nominees in any of the categories below, the following must be submitted:
- Completed entry form
- A detailed statement listing specific accomplishments achieved by the nominee
- The nominee’s professional résumé, which includes work experience
- The nominee’s AAMA résumé, including involvement at all three levels of AAMA membership, current CMA (AAMA) status, and emphasis on national achievements
- At least two detailed letters of recommendation supporting the nominee’s qualifications for the select award (Word docs are preferred, but PDFs will be accepted.)
Mail-in entries must include five copies of the entry form and all materials.
Incomplete entries will be automatically disqualified.
Medical Assistant of the Year Award
Presented to the medical assistant who has been nominated by peers as an exemplary professional medical assistant and has displayed outstanding commitment to advancing the profession through service on the national level.
Leadership and Mentoring Award
Presented to the volunteer leader who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to help meet the goals of the AAMA and to promote, therefore, the professional identity and stature of its members, and the medical assisting profession by having displayed outstanding leadership and mentoring abilities on the national level.
Golden Apple Award
Presented to the educator from a medical assisting program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) who has been nominated by supervisors and peers as a result of the nominee’s outstanding dedication to and accomplishments in the field of medical assisting education. Such accomplishments might include extraordinary dedication to education activities on the national level; exceptional support of students; or contribution to the medical assisting body of knowledge (e.g., author of or major contributor to a medical assisting or health-related textbook).
Student Essay Competition
Medical assisting students: Enter this competition for a chance to win, and add it to your portfolio of achievements!
Eligibility
You are eligible to enter if you are enrolled in and have completed at least one quarter or semester at a college-level medical assisting program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
Prize
$1,000
Deadline
July 15, 2023
Essay
Respond to the following prompt:
What are three personal characteristics that will assist you in becoming the best medical assistant you can be, and why is it important to obtain a medical assisting credential?
Essays must be between 400 and 500 words and emailed as a Microsoft Word attachment. Include the following information along with your essay in the body of the email or on the entry form:
- Full name
- Address
- Daytime Phone
- Email
- Academic Institution Name
- Academic Institution Address
- Educator's Name
- Educator's Email Address
- Educator's Daytime Phone
Judging Criteria
The AAMA Awards Committee will judge essay entries based on writing, content, and overall effectiveness.
Want to see an example? You can read last year's winning essay by clicking the link in the "2022 Excel Awards: Winners & Info" section
Medical Assistant Employer of the Year Award
Presented to the four medical practices, facilities, or health systems that employ medical assistants and is a strong supporter of professional growth, particularly in the areas of certification, recertification, professional membership, and networking.
Any AAMA member is eligible to nominate a medical institution for this prestigious award (except current members of the AAMA Board of Trustees). To enter a nomination, the following must be submitted:
- Completed entry form
- At least two detailed letters of commendation supporting the medical institution’s qualifications for the select award (Word docs are preferred, but PDFs will be accepted.)
- Proof of employee totals: include the employee totals within a letter printed on organization letterhead and have the letter cosigned by an employer (e.g., physician) and, if available, a human resources (HR) representative. If an employer or HR representative are the submitters of the nomination, the other can act as a single cosigner.
Note: AAMA staff who collect mailed Excel entries will have limited access to the mail. If possible, please choose the email method of submission instead.
Incomplete entries will be automatically disqualified.
2022 Excel Awards: Winners & Info
The AAMA congratulations all winners and participants for their hard work this year!