Celebrate Your Impact — Nominate for the 2026 GoWest Awards!

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on April 29, 2026

Credit unions across the GoWest region are doing remarkable work — strengthening member financial well-being, innovating in how they serve communities, and living out the cooperative spirit of People Helping People. Now’s the time to let those stories shine!

Nominations for the 2026 GoWest Awards are open now and will be accepted through May 22. Winners will be honored at the GoWest Awards Dinner & Gala during MAXX 2026 on October 9 in Denver. These awards recognize excellence in areas ranging from community impact and employee experience to collaboration, leadership, advocacy, and powerful storytelling.

Why Enter — And Why Now

Last year’s winner of the Community Impact Award, Colorado Credit Union, knows firsthand just how significant this recognition can be.

“Being honored with the Community Impact Award was incredibly meaningful to Colorado Credit Union because it showcased how community impact is deeply embedded in who we are as an organization,” shared Teagan Werden, Executive Director of Colorado Credit Union Cares Foundation.

Programs like EmpowerHER, which they won the award for, demonstrate what’s possible when shared purpose, partnerships, and collaboration come together. “The program’s success is the result of many dedicated Colorado Credit Union staff members working together, along with our valued partners at Dress for Success Denver and the EmpowerHER graduates whose voices and experiences helped shape its impact,” she explained.

That’s the heart of what the GoWest Awards celebrate — the real, measurable difference credit unions make every day.

“The nomination process for the Community Impact Award was straightforward,” Werden added. “Our application allowed us to truly tell the story of EmpowerHER, including its purpose, partnerships, and impact, while highlighting the meaningful work being done for our community.”

So if you’ve been thinking about a nomination, now’s the time. Tell your story — it matters.

“Each of us brings the credit union philosophy of People Helping People to life in different ways,” said Werden. “These nominations are an important opportunity to showcase the meaningful, community-driven work happening across our movement.”

To learn more about Colorado Credit Union’s award-winning EmpowerHER program, check out their 2025 award video.

This Year’s Award Categories

Tips to Strengthen Your Submission: Webinar on May 1

GoWest is hosting a GoWest Awards Workshop on Friday, May 1, from 10–10:30 a.m. PT / 11–11:30 a.m. MT.

Whether this is your first time submitting or you’ve nominated in the past, this interactive session will help you prepare a strong, compelling entry to showcase your credit union’s programs and people.

Get insider tips from the GoWest Awards team, judges, and past winners to make your nomination shine and learn about all the 2026 categories, the nomination and judging process, and what finalists and winners can expect when they are celebrated at the Dinner & Gala in October. And come ready with questions because there will be time for a Q&A too!

If your credit union has launched an innovative program, created measurable community impact, cultivated an exceptional workplace environment, or empowered the next generation of leaders, now’s the moment to be recognized. Share your vision — and your results — and let the GoWest Awards celebrate the powerful work taking place across our region.

Submit your nomination by May 22 and help your credit union’s story be heard!

Posted in Leadership, MAXX, Small Credit Unions, Top Headlines, Young Professionals.