The article presents two stage reviewing process for the selection of award winning papers for the IEEE Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects Conference. In the first stage each presentation was evaluated and scored by at least five, and usually six, members of the Awards Committee. In the second stage of the conference awards process the manuscripts of the twelve nominated papers were reviewed by all 19 committee members for technical quality, significance, clarity and originality. During the conference each committee member also evaluated all the Data Workshop papers for selection of the Outstanding Data Workshop Presentation Award.