Professional Development

Awards

EAA recognizes audiologists who have shaped the field through research, service, and advocacy. Our flagship recognition is the Frederick S. Berg Award, presented annually.

Nomination Deadline

May 31, 2026

Recognition

Presented at EAA Conference or sponsored event

Eligibility

Audiologist with national-level contributions

Annual Award

Frederick S. Berg Award

A transcript of this video is available on request. Contact EAA for accommodations.

The concept of educational audiology as a discipline began in 1966 when Frederick S. Berg generated the first known grant for educational audiology to train professionals to work with children who are deaf and hard of hearing in the public-school system. During this time, Fred Berg and Samuel Fletcher published their book, The Hard of Hearing Child (1970), which helped foster the concept of educational audiology on a national basis. On November 18, 1983, during the annual American Speech-Language-Hearing Association convention, the Educational Audiology Association (EAA) was formed. Fred Berg was elected the first president and served from November 1984 through December of the following year.

In June 1991, the Educational Audiology Association joined the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology at their Summer Institute at Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge, Colorado. A high point of the first Summer Institute was the presentation of the first Frederick S. Berg Educational Audiology Award to Fred Berg for his contributions to the field of educational audiology. This prestigious award is now given annually in recognition of an audiologist who has made notable contributions at the national level in the field of Educational and/or Pediatric Audiology.

The Nominations and Awards Committee reviews submissions and makes recommendations to the EAA Executive Committee for approval. The award is presented at the EAA Summer Conference, or at an EAA-sponsored event in off years that have no summer conference.

Criteria

✓ Nominee has made significant contributions at the national level through research, service, and/or advocacy in educational and/or pediatric audiology.
✓ Nominee cannot be a current member of the Educational Audiology Association Board of Directors.

Nominations Should Include

✓ A letter of nomination from a sponsor stating the nominee's specific qualifications for the award.
✓ Two additional letters of support from co-sponsors for the nominee.
✓ The nominee's Curriculum Vitae (CV).

Completed nominations are due by May 31, 2026.

Complete Nomination Online

Previous Recipients

2024 Kym Meyer
2023 Ryan McCreery
2022 Tina Childress
2021 Carrie Spangler
2019 Donna Fisher-Smiley
2017 Mary Pat Moeller
2016 Christine Yoshinaga-Itano
2015 Linda Thibodeau
2013 Susan Prendergast
2012 Joseph Smaldino
2011 Jack Katz
2010 Gail Gegg Rosenberg (awarded posthumously)
2007 Michael Nixon (awarded posthumously)
2006 Carl Crandell (awarded posthumously)
2005 Laurie Allen
2004 Evelyn Cherow
2003 Karen Anderson
2002 Kris English
2001 Cheryl DeConde Johnson
2000 Fred Bess
1999 Marion Downs
1998 Mark Ross
1997 Noel Matkin
1995 James Blair
1992 Carol Flexer
1991 Frederick S. Berg

The Berg Award is presented in years with an EAA Summer Conference and at sponsored events in alternating years; years without a recipient reflect this cycle.

Complete Nomination Online

Nominations are due May 31, 2026.