Award Highlights

Excellence Recognition

Honors lifeguards who significantly exceed
expectations.

Prestigious Ceremony

Award presented at the USLA National Lifesaving
Conference Awards Banquet.

Complimentary Trip

Winner celebrates in Jacksonville, Florida.*

Support Grant

$2,500 awarded to the nominating entity.**

Timeline

Nomination Period

June 1 - August 21, 2026

Announcement

Winner revealed in September 2026.

Award Presentation

November 11, 2026

Nomination Criteria

Current USLA member, actively employed as a
lifeguard.
At least 2 years of open water lifeguarding
experience.
Holds a non-management lifeguard position.

Nomination Process

Limit of One Nominee Per Agency
Nominations can be made by anyone,
but must be endorsed by senior leadership.
Individuals involved in the review and
selection process may not submit nominations.

Categories of Excellence

Leadership/Mentorship

Includes formal roles, mentorship, and
leadership in incidents.

Integrity and Honesty

Demonstrates sound decision-making and
promotes professional pride.

Teamwork and Reliability

Positively affects team dynamics with
consistent reliability.

Effective Communication

Maintains high standards per agency policies.

Commitment to Professional
Development

Actively seeks training to maintain high
fitness and master aquatic environments,
including understanding marine conditions
and advanced rescue techniques.

Strong Work Ethic

Consistently exceeds job requirements with
exceptional dedication.

SUBMIT
YOUR NOMINATION

Encourage and honor exceptional lifesavers.

Deadline for submissions: August 21, 2026

*Complimentary trip includes airfare, hotel accommodations and admission to the USLA National Lifesaving Conference & Expo in Jacksonville, FL. **Support Grant funds are intended for the agency, chapter, or region that nominates the award recipient, for mission-aligned training, education, or community water safety efforts.

Honoring the Legacy of Ben Carlson,
The Fallen Newport Beach Hero

The Ben Carlson Memorial & Scholarship Foundation was formed to leverage Ben Carlson's legacy through doing positive work in his memory. Learn more about our partner at bencarlsonfoundation.org.