2026 Prism Awards
Save the Date
May 7, 2026 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Scottish Rite
The Prism Awards is AMA Lincoln’s annual celebration of excellent work from marketers in Lincoln and the surrounding areas.
Each year, an AMA chapter from another city judges award entries from local agencies and corporate marketing teams, identifying winners for sterling awards and the coveted Prism awards. The AMA Lincoln board and past presidents also select winners of our flagship awards: Corporate Marketer of the Year, Marketer of the Year, Student Marketer of the Year, Dorothy B. Clarke Award, and the next inductee to the AMA Lincoln Hall of Fame. In the spring, we bring the winners and the greater marketing community together to present the awards and celebrate! Get ready for a night where exceptional campaigns, outstanding strategies, and groundbreaking initiatives will be brought into the limelight.
- Network: Connect with the brightest minds in the industry.
- Celebrate: Cheer for the champions of innovation.
- Experience: An unforgettable night of inspiration and success.
Prism Entries
Eligibility
The Prism Awards recognize excellence in marketing in Lincoln and surrounding communities. Work represented within entries must have been implemented in part during the calendar year prior to the award celebration. You do not need to be an AMA member to submit an entry.
Judging Criteria
Prism entries are judged by an American Marketing Association chapter selected by AMA Lincoln to review award submissions. The number of points received determines Prism and Sterling winners. Entries must receive a minimum number of points to qualify for a Prism award. Therefore, some categories may have a Sterling award winner and not a Prism award winner. The awards are judged based on your response to the following five areas:
Challenge & Objectives
the primary problem to solve, objectives to meet
What was the core, basic problem the entry needed to solve or address? What was/were the objective(s) to address the situation or challenge? This should be a specific, quantifiable statement. Judges will score on how clearly the challenge is stated and whether the objectives are sound, clear and measurable.
Strategy & Tactics
plans for achieving the goal
Describe the strategic process behind this project/initiative and what tactics or actions were taken to achieve the objectives. Judges will score how well the strategy and tactics relate to achieving the objectives.
Results
measurable success
What measurable results did this entry achieve? Did it achieve the entry’s objectives? It’s extremely important to describe the results in measurable terms to demonstrate the entry’s objectives were achieved. Judges will score on how effective the entry was in producing results that directly tie into the objective(s).
Campaign Elements
Include both physical and digital files of the work to be judged along with your entry.
Note that judging may include both physical and digital files. If your entry wins a Prism or Certificate of Sterling award, the physical files could be displayed at the awards banquet.
Submit an Entry
To submit in the “Non-profit Submission” category, the submitting organization must be a registered non-profit. Submissions made by for-profit companies are not eligible for this category, even if the work supports or represents a non-profit.
Important Dates:
- Friday, February 13, 2026 – Early Bird Entries Close at Midnight
- Friday, February 27, 2026 – Entries Close at Midnight
- February, March 27, 2026 – Winners Notified
- Thursday, May 7, 2026 – Prism Awards Ceremony
Prism Winners from Previous Years