Rising Stars in Manufacturing Awards

The Rising Stars in Manufacturing Awards (the “Program”) is a national recognition initiative administered by IACMI – The Composites Institute®, in partnership with the America’s Cutting Edge (ACE) and METAL programs (collectively, the “Sponsor”).

The Program honors early-career professionals whose innovation, leadership, and technical excellence are advancing the future of U.S. manufacturing.

The Program consists of three phases:

• Nomination Submission
• Review and Evaluation
• Honoree Selection and Recognition

All nominations will be evaluated according to the criteria outlined in these Rules.

The Sponsor of the Program is:

IACMI – The Composites Institute®
2730 Cherokee Farm Way, Suite 207
Knoxville, TN 37920
United States of America

To participate, a qualified nominator (the “Nominator”) must submit a completed nomination through the official online nomination platform designated by the Sponsor (the “Entry”).

All Entries must be submitted electronically through the official form. No other method of submission will be accepted.

Entry Limitations

• Each Nominator may submit multiple nominations
• Each nominee may only be nominated once per Program cycle
• Self-nominations are not permitted
• Peer nominations require supervisor verification

By submitting an Entry, the Nominator represents that:

• All information is accurate and truthful
• All required permissions have been obtained
• Submitted materials do not infringe on third-party rights

The Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any Entry that violates these Rules or the spirit of the Program.

By submitting a nomination, the Nominator and Nominee agree to comply with these Official Rules.

The Sponsor reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the Program at any time. All Sponsor decisions are final and binding.

Nominee Eligibility

Nominees must meet the following criteria:

• Age: 18–35 at time of nomination
• Career Stage: Early-career professional
• Industry Focus:
  • U.S.-based manufacturing
  • Advanced materials
  • Composites
  • Technical workforce support roles
• Employment Status:
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
  • Registered apprenticeship

Nominees must demonstrate meaningful professional impact within the U.S. manufacturing ecosystem.

Ineligible Participants

The following are not eligible:

• Program administrators
• Judges
• Immediate family members of judges or administrators

The Sponsor may disqualify any participant whose conduct is deemed unethical or harmful to the Program’s integrity.

The nomination period opens and closes on dates announced on the official Program website. 

The Sponsor’s server time shall be the official clock. 

Late submissions will not be accepted. 

Each nomination must include: 

Required Materials 

1. Completed online nomination form 
2. Nominator information 
3. Nominee information 
4. Written nomination statement 
5. Examples of professional impact 
6. Photo or video submission 
7. Brief biographical summary 

Optional Materials 

• Supervisor or mentor testimonial 
• Supporting documentation 

Incomplete submissions may be disqualified at the Sponsor’s discretion. 

Selected honorees will receive: 

• National recognition through IACMI, ACE, and METAL channels 
• Feature placement on makeit.org and related platforms 
• National social media promotion 
• Monetary award valued at $1,000 
• Inclusion in the Rising Stars alumni network 

Awards are contingent upon full compliance with these Rules. 

All Entries will be evaluated by a selection committee (“Committee”) using standardized scoring. 

Nominees will be evaluated based on: 

1. Meaningful Contribution
   Demonstrated advancement of manufacturing through innovation, skill, or process improvement. 
2. Measurable Impact
   Quantifiable results including productivity, quality, safety, or operational excellence. 
3. Inner Drive & Initiative
   Evidence of exceptional work ethic, reliability, and personal investment. 
4. Leadership Potential
   Professionalism, influence, and demonstrated leadership capacity. 

The Committee will review all eligible Entries and select honorees based on overall merit. 

The Committee may: 

• Request clarification 
• Conduct supplemental review 
• Engage in deliberation 

All decisions are final.

Selected honorees will be notified via email.

Honorees may be required to complete verification and release forms within fourteen (14) days.

Failure to comply may result in forfeiture.

Honorees are responsible for any applicable tax obligations.

The Sponsor is not responsible for ancillary expenses related to award receipt or use.

By submitting materials, the Nominator and Nominee grant the Sponsor a non-exclusive, perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license to use submitted content for Program-related purposes. This includes marketing, publicity, and educational use.

Participants warrant that submissions: 

• Are original
• Are lawful 
• Do not contain harmful, misleading, or defamatory material 
• Do not violate intellectual property rights 

By participating, Nominees consent to the use of their name, likeness, voice, and biographical information for promotional purposes at any time without compensation.

The Sponsor is not responsible for: 

• Technical failures 
• Submission errors 
• Lost or delayed communications 
• Program interruptions 
• Any other damages related to participation by any Party

Participants assume all risks associated with participation.

Participants agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsor and affiliates from claims arising from participation or submitted materials not caused by Sponsor’s own acts or omissions.

All disputes shall be resolved individually and governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

The Sponsor may collect and use personal information for Program administration. 

Information will be handled in accordance with the Sponsor’s privacy policies as amended from time to time.

If any provision is found invalid, remaining provisions remain in effect.