Commerce Secretary Evans Issues Call for Nominations for Nation's Highest Honor in Technological Achievement

Washington, DC - Commerce Secretary Don Evans today issued the Call for Nominations for the 2002 National Medal of Technology awards, a program enacted by Congress in 1980 to recognize the nation's leading technological innovators. Each year since 1985, the President of the United States has presented the medals to individuals, teams and companies for accomplishments in the innovation, development, commercialization and management of technology.

"As the highest honor awarded by the President to America's leading innovators, the National Medal of Technology recognizes American innovators who have made lasting contributions to our nation's competitiveness and standard of living," said Commerce Secretary Don Evans. "There are no dreams too large, no innovation unimaginable and no frontiers beyond our reach," said Evans in quoting former Secretary of Energy John S. Herrington. "The goals of the National Medal of Technology program are to recognize people who bring these dreams within our grasp and to encourage the next generation of American innovators by giving the current generation the recognition they deserve," Evans noted.

The deadline for submitting 2002 nominations will be August 30, 2001. For a complete set of nomination materials, including PDF files with the nomination forms and instructions that may be downloaded, please visit the National Medal of Technology web site at www.ta.goc.gov/medal.

To obtain a package by mail, interested persons may also contact Mildred Porter, Director, National Medal of Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room 4226, Washington, D.C. 20230, Tel: 202-482-5572, or by e-mail: nmt@ta.doc.gov.