STLE Awards Program

Each year, STLE honors individuals for outstanding achievements in the field of tribology and lubrication engineering that support our mission: "To advance the science of tribology and the practice of lubrication engineering in order to foster innovation, improve the performance of equipment and products, conserve resources and protect the environment."
STLE International Award
This is the society's highest technical honor. It recognizes the recipient's outstanding contributions to tribology, lubrication engineering or allied fields. The award bestows lifetime honorary membership on the recipient, who need not have been a member of STLE.


STLE P.M. Ku Award
The P.M. Ku Award recognizes outstanding and selfless achievements by a long-time STLE member, providing distinguish service to promote and advance the mission STLE. 


Edmond E. Bisson Award
The Bisson Award honors a former STLE Editor-in-Chief, who was instrumental in establishing STLE’s reputation as a technical publisher. The award is given to STLE members or non-members for the best-written contribution published by the society in the prior year.


Frank P. Bussick Award
Presented for the outstanding published technical paper written on sealing systems, technology and materials. The award is sponsored by the STLE Seals Technical Committee and honors a former committee chair and STLE board member.


Walter D. Hodson Award
This award honors one of STLE’s founding fathers. It is given to the lead author of the best paper written by an STLE member 35 years of age or younger and published by the society in the prior year. The purpose of the award is to stimulate the interest of young engineers in the science of tribology and lubrication and the activities of STLE.


Wilbur Deutsch Memorial Award
Named for a former STLE president, this award recognizes the outstanding paper written by an STLE member on the practical aspects of lubrication published by the society during the prior year.


Captain Alfred E. Hunt Memorial Award
This award is named for the first president of ALCOA.  It is given annually to the STLE member or members authoring the best paper dealing with the field of lubrication or an allied field.


Al Sonntag Award
The Sonntag Award was established in 1983 to honor the STLE member or members authoring the best paper on solid lubricants published by the society during the year preceding the Annual Meeting.  It is named for a pioneer leader in the specialized field of solid lubricants.


The Raymond L. Thibault Award
The Raymond L. Thibault Excellence in Education Award is given to an STLE member who has demonstrated dedication to passionate and influential work as an educator in practical aspects of tribology and lubrication engineering which benefits the STLE community.