40 Under 40

40 Under 40 Awards

2026 Winners Announced!

Recognizing Native American citizens for outstanding leadership and community contributions annually.

Nominated by their peers, 40 Under 40 honorees exemplify leadership, initiative, and dedication and have made significant contributions to their professions and communities. The 40 Under 40 awards are now in their 17th year.

"The 2026 honorees embody the spirit of rising together, achieving excellence while lifting up others and creating opportunities for their communities to thrive," said Chris James, President and CEO of The National Center. "Their accomplishments remind us that progress is the result of collaboration, innovation, and shared visions. I'm thrilled to celebrate the 2026 class at RES and continue to follow their success in the years ahead."

40 Under 40 Class of 2027 Nominations Now Open!

Eligibility:

• Nominees must be between 18 and 39 years of age as of January 1, 2027.
• Deadline for submitting nominations is October 5, 2026, at 4:30 PM MST.
• You may nominate more than one person.
• Self-nominations are welcome.

Required Materials for Consideration:
All items below must be submitted for the nomination to be considered:

1. Fully completed nomination form – mandatory
2. Three supporting documents – mandatory
   • Examples: professional resume, reference letters, publications, etc.
3. Nominee’s email address – mandatory
4. One color headshot of the nominee (300 dpi, JPG format)
5. Copy of Tribal enrollment document – mandatory

Important Notes:

• Processing nominations may take 2–3 business days.
• A nomination is considered incomplete until all required documents have been submitted.