​Awards​

​Honorary Life Membership

One of the most significant ways to recognize outstanding contributions to the potato industry and to our organization, The Potato Association of America (PAA), is the awarding of the PAA Honorary Life Membership (HLM). This is the highest award bestowed upon an individual by the PAA. The awarding of Honorary Life Membership awards is considered by many meeting ​attendees the highlight of the award banquet at the PAA annual meeting.

Nomination Guidelines​View Honorary Life Members

AJPR Outstanding Paper Award

Each year the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Potato Research (AJPR)​ conducts a formal routine of reviewing and voting to select the highest quality research paper in each section published in AJPR from the volume of the previous year. The corresponding author is recognized at the PAA annual meeting during the awards banquet. 


Frank L. Haynes Graduate Student Research Award Competition

A graduate student award fund honoring the late Dr. Frank L. Haynes, long time professor of Potato Breeding and Genetics at North Carolina State University was initiated by his wife, Dr. Kathy Haynes, USDA-ARS Potato Breeder at Beltsville, MD and family members. The purpose of the research award competition is to promote student participation through presentation of research papers at the PAA Annual Meeting. The presenting author receives a cash honorarium and certificate and are recognized during the awards banquet at the PAA annual meeting. 

View 2025 ​Submission DetailsView Past Awardees


Outstanding Extension Project Award

The Outstanding Extension Project Award was established by the PAA Extension​ Section to recognize exceptional Extension projects or programs that have significantly contributed to potato education. Eligible projects may include printed publications, websites, workshops, newsletters, or other impactful initiatives. The award is presented at the PAA annual meeting during the award banquet. 

Nomination Guidelines View Past Project Awards