AFS Honorific Awards

AFS annually honors those who have made contributions to the AFS Society and the filtration and separation industry with the following awards. Below is a summary of each award.
*Please note that not all awards have a recipient each year.

Life Time Achievement Award - For Exceptional Career and Valuable Contributions to the Filtration and/or Separations Industry

The Lifetime Achievement Award is the premier award given by AFS and was created to honor those who have had an exceptional career and have made valuable contributions to the filtration and/or separations industry.

Recent Recipients:

  • Dr. Wu Chen

    2024

Fellow – For Superior Contributions of Organization and Leadership

The Fellow Member Award was established in 1996 to honor individuals who have made superior contributions of organization and leadership to Society for many years. Fellows are entitled to a lifetime membership enjoying all the benefits of regular membership with waived annual dues. Fellows may attend AFS-sponsored conferences with a waiver of registration fees.

Recent Recipients:

  • Mr. Tom Ramsey

    2023

  • Dr. Wenping Li

    2021

  • Dr. Christine Sun

    2019

  • Mr. Ken Rubow

    2017

  • Mr. Mark Willingham

    2016

Frank Tiller Award – For Leadership in Engineering and Education

Named in honor of Dr. Frank Tiller, the internationally acclaimed “Father of Modern Filtration Theory” and key founding member of the AFS, this award highlights scientific merit. The TILLER AWARD recognizes individuals for outstanding lifetime scientific and engineering achievements in the Technology of Fluid-Particle Separation.

Recent Recipients:

  • Dr. Tinoush Dinn

    2024

  • Mr. Peter Cartwright

    2023

  • Dr. Martin Lehmann

    2021

  • Dr. Wallace Leung

    2015

  • Dr. Wenping Li

    2014

  • Dr. Barry Verdigan

    2013

Wells Shoemaker Award

The Wells Shoemaker Award was established in 1989 and named after a key-founding member of the AFS society. He epitomizes the characteristics of leadership and service. This award recognizes individuals for a lifetime of outstanding leadership and exceptional service to the American Filtration & Separations Society, which have resulted in significant and demonstrable benefits to the Society’s members.

Recent Recipients:

  • Mr. Chris Wallace

    2024

  • Dr. Sneha Swaminathan

    2023

  • Mr. Rob Bender

    2021

  • Mr. Ray Collins

    2014

  • Mr. Jerry Lynch

    2010

  • Mr. Lew Osterhoudt

    2009

Senior Scientist – For Significant Contributions to the Technology of Filtration and Separation

The Senior Scientist Award was established in 1999 to honor individuals in the middle of their careers who make a significant contribution to the Technology of Filtration and Separation.

Recent Recipients:

  • Dr. Ashish Bandekar

    2024

  • Dr. Lin Zhao

    2023

  • Dr. Rahul Bharadwaj

    2019

  • Dr. Swarna Agarwal

    2018

  • Dr. Shagufta Patel

    2017

Young Scientist – For Important Contributions to the Technology of Filtration and Separation

The Young Scientist Award was established in 1999 to honor individuals at the beginning of their career who have made important contributions to the Technology of Filtration and Separation.

Recent Recipients:

  • Dr. Jianyu "Jerry" Zhou

    2024

  • Dr. Harshal Gade

    2024

  • Dr. Ashish Gadhave

    2023

  • Dr. Lin Zhao

    2021

  • Dr. Ashish Bandekar

    2019

  • Dr. Dinesh Lolla

    2018

  • Dr. Sarfarez Patel

    2017

Prof. George Chase Award - For Excellence in Academic Research

Named in honor of Professor George Chase for many contributions by himself and his students to AFS and to the filtration and separations profession. The CHASE AWARD, established in 2021, was created to honor academic researchers and their students that make significant contributions to the filtration and separations profession. The AFS will bestow one award per year when a deserving candidate dui, professor and student, are available.

Recent Recipients:

  • Dr. Pratik Gotad, Prof. Sadhan Jana, University of Akron

    2024

  • Dr. Mohammad Jamali, Prof. Hooman Tafreshi, North Carolina State University

    2023

  • Dr. Ashish Gadhave, Prof. George Chase, University of Akron

    2021

New Product of the Year

New products, new ideas, new ways to look at old problems are key to the future. To encourage innovative and technological advances in filtration and separation the AFS Users Committee initiated an annual New Product of the Year and Engineering Merit award for the company making the most significant new product introduction in the previous year. Award winners are recognized at the FILTCON Awards Luncheon.

Any new technical product that was first marketed between January 1, and December 31 of the previous year may be entered. Products that will not be mass-produced must have become available for contract or licensing during that period.

Entries may be submitted by individuals or organizations one entry per product. There is no limit to the number of products that may be entered.

Recent Recipients:

  • GKD-USA - Filter Concept Using VORTEX

    2024 New Product for 2023

  • MayAir - Constant-Efficient Intelligent HEPA Box and Return Air Inlet

    2024 Engineering Merit Award of 2024

  • Ahlstrom, Ahlstrom ECO

    2023 New Product Award for 2022

  • Spectubular Technologies - Precision Micro-Cut Filter Tubes

    2023 Engineering Merit Award for 2022

  • Parker Hannifin Corp, BHA® Wicked High Temp™ Pleated Filter

    2023 Engineering Merit Award for 2022

  • Porometer, Porolux™ 50

    2021 New Product Award for 2020

  • Dorstener Wire, RoSL 700 - Assonic DST

    2021 Engineering Merit Award for 2020

  • Filtration Technology Corp., Invicta®

    2020 New Product Award for 2019

  • Ahlstrom-MunksjÖ, Extia®1000

    2019 New Product Award for 2018

  • Croft Filters, Quick Release Filter

    2019 Engineering Merit Award for 2018

  • MANN+HUMMEL, GmbH, IQORON VP Air Cleaner

    2018 New Product Award for 2017

  • GKD, Porometric Woven Wire Mesh

    2017 New Product Award for 2016

  • Cummins, Fleetguard® Centrifuge Rotor, Part Number CS41018

    2017 Engineering Merit Award for 2016

  • Parker Hannifin, Parker Zander OFAS Dryer

    2017 Engineering Merit Award for 2016

  • Hollingsworth & Vose, FS6786, FS 6783, FS6781 High Efficiency Fuel Media

    2017 Engineering Merit Award for 2016

  • BHS Sonthofen, BHS Concentrating Filtration System

    2017 Engineering Merit Award for 2016

  • Delta Pure, Delta Pure Filtration FF Series

    2017 Engineering Merit Award for 2016

  • Hollingsworth & Vose, FS6786, FS 6783, FS6781 High-Efficiency Fuel Media

    2017 Engineering Merit Award for 2016