The PAA distributes two awards to honor alumni who make a difference in their communities and made contributions to the university, the alumni association, or the fields of science and technology. Recipients are selected by the PA Awards Committee from a pool of highly-confidential nominees. The organization accepts nominations through December 31 of each year. The International Board of Directors makes the final decision on award recipients. Nominations must include a biography of the nominee and information on qualifications, leadership contributions, and reasons for nomination.
Awards distributed by PAA include the Distinguished Alumnus/a Award and the Dedicated Alumnus/a Award. The Distinguished Alumnus/a Award honors alumni who made notable scientific contributions through entrepreneurship and innovation or accomplished outstanding leadership in the fields of technology or engineering. Eligible nominees include graduates of the School of Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, or Polytechnic Institute of New York. The Dedicated Alumnus/a Award recognizes individuals who went beyond the call of duty to make positive impacts or contributions to the PAA or the School of Engineering.