NAYEN Awards
Celebrating innovation and achievement in Rotary Youth Exchange across our districts.
Dr. Abe Kuttothara Outstanding District Innovation Award
The Dr. Abe Kuttothara District Innovation Award is given to NAYEN Rotary Districts whose innovations are unique, truly exceptional, transformative, and have a positive impact on the Youth Exchange program.
The award recognizes and celebrates an outstanding District that contributes to the success of the Youth Exchange program by helping shape the future of the program and inspiring the next generation.
Dr. Kuttothara and Rick Russell co-founded the USA-Canada Youth Exchange Network in 2000. It was renamed the North American Youth Exchange Network (NAYEN) when Mexico joined the network in 2008.
Dr. Kuttothara was widely recognized for his commitment to fostering peace, cultural understanding, and lifelong international friendships through Youth Exchange. His leadership and enthusiasm helped strengthen Rotary's exchange program and inspired generations of students and volunteers.
The Dr. Abe Kuttothara District Innovation Award may not be awarded every year.
Dr. Abe Kuttothara Outstanding District
To be eligible to apply for this award, you must have paid your NAYEN dues for the current year and the prior year. The 2025-2026 Exchange Year award applications will be due October 1, 2026.
How to Apply
- 1.Download the instructions and application.
- 2.Make sure you get the appropriate signatures.
- 3.Email the completed application and any Dr. Abe Kuttothara supporting PDF documents to the awards chair.
Remember to include answers for both the long and short-term programs. Applications submitted without supporting documents will be disqualified, as will hand written applications. Attachments should be in a PDF.
Please follow the 4-way test when completing this application.
Awards will be presented annually at the NAYEN Conference. They reflect a full year's work. For example, for the Rotary year 2022-23 the awards will be presented at the 2024 conference.
You will receive a confirmation email that your application has been received. If you do not receive this within one week please send a separate email asking about the status. It may be that your attachments are too large.
Contact Becky Fontaine, NAYEN Achievement Awards Chair, with any questions about NAYEN Achievement Awards.
Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards
The North American Youth Exchange Network (NAYEN) Recognition Program recognizes individual Districts participating in a variety of activities which cumulatively help create strong programs. Districts can obtain 1 of 3 levels: Gold, Silver, or Bronze.
The application for Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards is combined with the Dr. Abe Kuttothara Outstanding District application. Applications for the 2025-26 Rotary year are due December 1, 2026.
To be eligible to apply for these awards, a district must have paid its NAYEN dues for the current year and the prior year.
How to Apply
- 1.Download the instructions and application using the link below.
- 2.Complete the application, including narrative questions.
- 3.Make sure you get the appropriate signatures.
- 4.Email the completed application and any Dr. Abe Kuttothara supporting PDF documents to Jan Bonsett-Veal, the NAYEN Awards Chair at awards@nayen.org.
The application will be available soon.
Contact Jan Bonsett-Veal at janmbv@gmail.com with any questions about the NAYEN Awards.
Dennis K. White Excellence in Education Award
Dr. Dennis K. White is a clinical psychologist, educator, and longtime Rotarian from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, whose work has had a profound influence on Rotary Youth Exchange worldwide. For decades, he has trained Rotary Youth Exchange volunteers around the world and has helped shape best practices for supporting exchange students, host families, and Rotary leaders.
The Dennis K. White Excellence in Education Award is presented to a person that has successfully implemented a project(s), program(s), or activity(ies) in North America which:
- 1.Made an innovative and impactful change to education methods for Rotary Youth Exchange students, host family members, or program administrators (such as club, district, and multi-district committee members);
- 2.Solved a problem or met a need;
- 3.Included visionary thinking; and
- 4.Resonated with Rotary’s goal of World Peace.
Anyone may submit a nomination to the NAYEN Leadership Team that outlines how the proposed recipient meets these criteria. Nominations must be sent to secretary@nayen.org and the deadline for receipt of nominations is December 1, 2026.
Past winners: Pauline Perrault and Kirk Langford