What are the Credit Union Times Luminaries Awards?
The Credit Union Times Luminaries Awards honor industry professionals, credit unions and world-class service organizations that are changing the cooperative financial services industry for the better. This award shines a spotlight on the individuals, teams, projects and organizations that have significantly enhanced the not-for-profit financial cooperative landscape and recognizes those that have raised the bar within the credit union sphere, by driving positive change and inspiring others to follow suit.
Who is eligible for nomination?
Nominations are open to industry professionals, teams, projects, credit unions and world-class service organizations. We accept nominations across 35 nomination categories spanning the credit union industry.
When do nominations close for the 2024 Luminaries Awards?
Nominations are open until July 18, 2024.
What information/data will I need to apply?
The complete nomination form, including all questions and word limits, is available for download here. Please note that this is for preparation purposes only. Final entries must be submitted online, via the nomination portal.
Submissions for individual nominees must include a professional headshot image. Submissions for organization nominees must include a high-resolution image of the company’s logo. All images must be in color, a minimum 300 dpi files and in .jpg format. Supplemental materials such as files, documents and links to public webpages, short videos or campaigns are acceptable.
Nominations must clearly convey quantitative and qualitative results regarding the nominee’s industry impact and accomplishments. We ask submitters to support their entries and statements with backup information – we love facts and figures. Don’t just tell us the nominee’s accomplishments, show us by sharing a brief story that illustrates their achievements.
Is there a fee to nominate?
No. Submission to this award program, as well as all CUTimes.com editorial content, is free.
How many nominees can I submit?
A submitter can nominate as many candidates as they wish for this recognition. If nominating individuals, please submit no more than five nominees per company. If nominating a team or organization, please provide the names and titles of key leaders only. We encourage you to limit your entries to those who have made indelible impacts on the credit union industry.
Can I nominate myself?
Yes. We accept self-nominations, as well as third-party submissions.
I was selected as a Credit Union Times 2023 Luminaries finalist and/or winner. Can I apply again this year?
To avoid redundancy, we aim to vary the Luminaries winners that we profile from year-to-year, however, you may nominate a 2023 Luminaries finalist by including updated details that do not mirror previous accomplishments or testimonies. Candidates that were honored as 2023 Luminaries winners may be nominated once again this year in a separate category from which they were previously recognized.
View Credit Union Times’ 2023 Luminaries finalists, here.
Oops! I need to change something on my submission.
No problem! Click here to view or modify your entry.
How and when will the 2024 Luminaries finalists and winners be notified of their selection?
Editorial staff will send email notifications to the Luminaries finalists and their submitters in early September. The 2024 Luminaries winners will be revealed onstage at the Credit Union Times Luminaries Awards dinner in Orlando, Fla. on November 7th, 2024. Due to the high volume of nominations that we receive, only those selected will be notified.
How will the 2024 Luminaries be recognized?
The Luminaries finalists will be revealed on CUTimes.com in early September. The 2024 Luminaries winners will be announced and honored with awards live on stage at the 3rd annual Credit Union Times Luminaries Awards dinner in Orlando, Fla. on November 7th, 2024. The winners will also be profiled in year-round coverage on CUTimes.com starting in November, and will receive additional recognition via Credit Union Times’ social channels and email newsletters.
What if my nominee assumes a new role with a different company after the submission deadline?
By submitting a nomination, you are agreeing that should your nominee be selected as a 2024 Luminaries finalist, Credit Union Times has the right to consider them as a 2024 Luminaries winner, regardless of whether or not the nominee has changed companies by the time of publication. That said, for accuracy purposes, you may reach out to Michael Ogden regarding a small update to the honoree’s bio, stating that they have since taken on a new role.
How does the judging process work?
Upon the submission deadline, Credit Union Times’ team of judges carefully reviews each nomination without bias. The judges work diligently to select the industry’s most influential individuals, teams, projects and organizations across a variety of backgrounds and expertise. The judges consider each nominee's different accomplishments and contributions and base their decisions on an array of factors in correlation with the awards’ criteria. You may view more information on the judging process here.