Outstanding Service Award
The Outstanding Service Award is presented annually to recognize a career of outstanding service to ACM SIGGRAPH by a volunteer. It recognizes an individual who has given extraordinary service to ACM SIGGRAPH, both in the trenches and in positions of more responsibility or visibility, over a significant period of time. The award includes a lifetime membership in ACM SIGGRAPH.
Current Recipient
Yong Tsui (YT) Lee
For his service to the computer graphics community in Asia including the founding and nurturing of the SIGGRAPH Asia Conference.
ACM SIGGRAPH recognizes Lee Yong Tsui (YT) with the 2023 Outstanding Service Award for his nearly three decades of service to the international organization, in addition to his service to the SIGGRAPH Asia conference.
YT’s association with ACM and ACM SIGGRAPH started in 1980 when he joined as a student member. He was an early supporter of ACM SIGGRAPH in South-East Asia as he cofounded the SIGGRAPH Singapore Chapter and served as Vice President from 1997-2009, and then again from 2013 to the present. In 2003 he was the inaugural Graphite Conference Co-chair with Matt Adcock and Ian Gwilt. In 2004 he was the Graphite Conference Chair in Singapore and in 2006 the Graphite Conference Co-chair with Prof. Siti Mariyam Shamsuddi in Kuala Lumpur.
In 2006 YT was part of a small group of Asian Professors who met with ACM SIGGRAPH at SIGGRAPH 2006 and suggested starting a full SIGGRAPH Conference in Asia. He was a member of the ad-hoc Task Force formed to investigate this and was a strong voice in the meeting at Graphite 2006 where the Task Force recommended moving forward. The ACM SIGGRAPH Executive Committee decided to support SIGGRAPH Asia, with the first conference being in Singapore in 2008 and YT as the Conference Chair. Before and after this decision, he worked with the Singapore government to provide financial support for SIGGRAPH Asia 2008.
In 2009-2010 he served on the SIGGRAPH Asia Conference Advisory Group (SACAG) and served as the Chair of the SACAG 2011-2018, thus shepherding SIGGRAPH Asia during its early formative years. His experience and advice were invaluable in helping ACM SIGGRAPH adapt to the conference and volunteer cultures in Asia.
He has also served on other ACM SIGGRAPH committees, such as the Nominations Committee (2010-2013) and the International Committee, and has mentored student volunteers at both SIGGRAPH and SIGGRAPH Asia.
In all of his service activities, YT has exhibited strong qualities of leadership and expertise. He has a wonderful sense of humor and is a pleasure to work with. With this award, ACM SIGGRAPH celebrates Lee Yong Tsui’s many contributions to both SIGGRAPH Asia and to the organization.
Previous Recipients
- 2022 Barb Helfer
- 2021 Marc J. Barr
- 2020 Thierry Frey
- 2019 Jackie White
- 2018 G. Scott Owen
- 2017 Alyn Rockwood
- 2016 Alain Chesnais
- 2015 Mike Bailey
- 2014 Scott Lang
- 2013 Mary Whitton
- 2012 David Kasik
- 2010 Kellogg S. Booth
- 2008 Stephen Spencer
- 2006 John Fujii
- 2004 Judy Brown and Steve Cunningham
- 2002 Bertram Herzog
- 2000 Tom DeFanti and Copper Giloth
- 1998 Maxine Brown
Nomination Procedure
The criteria used to evaluate the award include the importance of the service and the degree of sacrifice incurred by the volunteer. Nominations for the Outstanding Service Award are evaluated by committee and may be submitted to the Outstanding Service Award Chair by January 31 of each year.
Requirements
- Name(s) of the individual(s) being nominated (address and/or phone number and/or email address are also appreciated).
- A description of the service(s) to ACM SIGGRAPH and time period.
- A statement by the nominator describing the significance of the service(s). Additional letters of support and other materials are not necessary but will be appreciated.
- Nominator’s name, address, telephone number, and email address.