Honoring Excellence Across Our Industry

Published July 21, 2026

Every lottery has them.

The employee who takes on the toughest challenges without being asked. The project manager who keeps a major initiative moving forward. The IT professional who works behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly. The marketer whose creativity connects with players. The security expert who protects the integrity of our games. The vendor partner who consistently goes above and beyond to help a lottery succeed.

These individuals rarely seek the spotlight. They simply show up every day, do exceptional work, and make their organizations stronger.

That's why the NASPL Powers Awards are so meaningful.

Named in honor of Edward J. Powers – the "Father of U.S. Lotteries" – the Powers Awards recognize lottery and vendor employees whose exceptional performance, integrity, and commitment have made a significant impact on their organizations and our industry. Ed helped establish many of the organizational principles that continue to guide lotteries today, and the award that bears his name celebrates those who carry forward his legacy of excellence.

One thing I appreciate about these awards is that they celebrate people who may not expect recognition. They're the colleagues who solve problems, support their teammates, embrace new challenges, and make everyone around them better. While our industry is often recognized for the billions of dollars we generate for good causes, those results are only possible because of the dedicated professionals working behind the scenes every day.

Recognition matters because people matter.

Taking the time to acknowledge someone's contributions sends a powerful message – not just to the recipient, but to everyone around them. It reinforces the values we want to see throughout our organizations: innovation, collaboration, integrity, and a commitment to excellence. It reminds employees that their work is noticed and appreciated, even when it happens outside the public eye.

The Powers Awards also remind us that success is never the work of one individual. Every successful game launch, technology implementation, marketing campaign, retailer initiative, or security enhancement is the result of talented teams working together. These awards give us an opportunity to celebrate the individuals whose efforts elevate those around them and strengthen our entire industry.

Later this month, during the 2026 NASPL Professional Development Seminar in Seattle, we will celebrate not only this year's Powers Award recipients, but also the recipient of the Ott Brown NASPL Scholarship. While the Powers Awards recognize outstanding achievement, the Ott Brown Scholarship recognizes potential by investing in the next generation of lottery leaders. The scholarship provides one lottery professional each year with the opportunity to attend the NASPL Lottery Leadership Institute at no cost, where they can broaden their industry knowledge, develop their leadership skills, and return to their organizations with new perspectives and connections.

One of my favorite parts of reading the nominations each year is seeing the remarkable stories behind the names. They highlight ingenuity, perseverance, leadership, and teamwork in ways that remind us of what makes this industry so special.

To this year's recipients, congratulations. Your dedication and accomplishments deserve to be celebrated.

And to everyone across the NASPL community, thank you. Whether your name is called in Seattle or not, your work helps strengthen our organizations, support our beneficiaries, and improve the communities we serve. The Powers Awards give us a chance to celebrate a few outstanding individuals, but they also remind us of something even bigger: Our greatest asset has always been our people.

It's an honor to work with you.

Brian Rockey

Director, Nebraska Lottery

NASPL President