Since 2001, the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) has recognized outstanding work in the field of online, blended, and digital learning through its annual awards.
Application Portal will open on March 17, 2025
Home >
The OLC Awards and Recognition Program is an opportunity for the OLC to shine a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of educators within our community! This program not only celebrates the transformative contributions of dedicated professionals, but also shares their innovative practices that inspire others across the field.
Winning an OLC Award for Excellence comes with numerous benefits. Award winners are recognized at the annual OLC Accelerate conference, highlighted in the OLC newsletter, and receive a plaque to commemorate their achievements. Furthermore, award winners are invited to present their work as a webinar or publish it as an article in OLC Insights, furthering their reach and impact. Receiving an award looks good on a CV, of course, and increases one’s visibility among peers and leaders in the field.
Each year, the OLC award reviewers carefully evaluate submissions to select our awardees, who are then honored during the OLC’s fall conference. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this celebration of excellence—apply and let your contributions be recognized!
Description: Effective practices in digital learning student support services that impact student satisfaction, retention, and success
Who can submit: Individuals, teams, or organizations that provide exceptional support to enhance digital learning experiences, including student services professionals, instructional technologists, CTLs, IT support staff, administrators, educational consultants, and other professionals who have significantly contributed to improving the infrastructure, tools, or services that enable effective digital education – self-nomination permissible.
Description: Outstanding achievements in developing and implementing creative, impactful, and inclusive digital learning solutions.
Who can submit: Individuals or teams who leverage technology to enhance educational experiences, promote accessibility, and drive learner engagement, setting new benchmarks for innovation in the digital learning landscape.
– self-nomination permissible
Description: Evidence of outstanding transformative leadership in online, blended, and/or digital learning that advances equity
Who can submit: Educators, administrators, instructional designers, researchers, and professionals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the field of digital education – self-nomination permissible
Description: Effective practices in developing or expanding innovative and impactful online and digital programs, and the creation, delivery and management of digital tools, platforms, and content that enhance teaching, learning and administrative processes in educational institutions.
Who can submit: Individuals, teams, or organizations that have demonstrated outstanding achievement in designing, delivering, or managing online programs, including educators, instructional designers, program coordinators, developers, and institutions that have created innovative, impactful, and accessible online learning experiences.- self-nomination permissible
Description: Extraordinary accomplishments in the field of digital education at an early stage (less than five years) in their careers and is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to online education.
Who can submit: Digital learning professionals with less than 5 years of experience in the field. – self-nomination permissible
Description: Excellence in research, including scholarly research and writing, leadership and service in research, and contributions to advancing the field.
Who can submit: Internal nomination by OLC – no self or outside submission permissible
Description: Recognizing outstanding contributions to the OLC community through volunteerism that exemplifies leadership, innovation, adaptability, impact, and collaboration.
Who can submit: Internal nomination by OLC – no self or outside submission permissible
Description: Outstanding work within online learning, extraordinary contributions to the field, distinguished service to OLC, and extraordinary leadership.
Who can submit: Nomination must be initiated by another OLC Fellow, an OLC Individual Member, or an OLC Institutional Member – no self submission permissible
We invite leaders, educators, researchers, and innovators to showcase their achievements and inspire the future of digital education. Submit your application and be recognized for your contributions to shaping the digital learning landscape!
We ask that submitters take note of the following award and scholarship submission requirements:
Please review the application criteria, materials required, and the scoring criteria for each award, recognition and scholarship category.
For additional information about the OLC Awards and Recognition programs, please email us at awards@onlinelearning-c.org.
April 1-3, 2025
Spring Awards Winners recognized during Innovate 2025.
March 17, 2025
Fall Awards Portal Opens
June 30, 2025
Fall Awards Portal Closes
November 2025
Fall Award Winners recognized at Accelerate 2025 onsite in Orlando.
OLC Innovate, a joint conference presented by OLC and MERLOT, provides a path for innovators of all experience levels and backgrounds to share best practices, test new ideas, and collaborate on driving forward online, digital, and blended learning.
Online Learning Consortium
6 Liberty Square #2309
Boston, MA 02109
617.716.1414