About Waco Under 40

Waco Under 40 celebrates dynamic young leaders under the age of 40, from McLennan County. The Waco Under 40 Celebration is a rare opportunity for the best and brightest from a diverse group of professions to gather and receive much-deserved recognition.

The Waco Under 40 Celebration has a three-fold mission:

• Engage the community in identifying the local leaders under the age of 40 and encourage young citizens of Waco to step up and become the future leaders Waco needs.
• Provide an opportunity for professional and personal development 
• Create an atmosphere that will foster and encourage mentor/mentee relations and spread awareness about the importance of investing in the next generation of leaders. 

Nominees represent not only the young leaders who demonstrate a tremendous positive impact in their respective industries, but who also go beyond the call of duty by volunteering their personal time to give back to the community and strive to make Waco a better place to live. 

Honorees will be notified in June and recognized at the Waco Under 40 Celebration held on November 13, 2025 at the Bird Kultgen Ford dealership.

Presenting Sponsor

Nomination Process

Each spring, nominations open for potential candidates. After the nomination period closes, all nominees will be contacted by a member of the Greater Waco Chamber’s signature events team to complete an application. Once completed applications have been collected, the individuals nominated will be reviewed by the Chamber's Executive Committee and then a Review and Recommendation Committee compromised of community leaders. 

Each nominee’s application and supporting materials will be scored on their leadership in their industry, as well as their leadership,community involvement and impact in the Greater Waco community.

Nomination guidelines:

• Nominees may not be self-nominated
• Nominees must be under the age of 40 at the time of the celebration November 13, 2025
• Nominees must work in McLennan County
• Nominees are committed to professional excellence and improving the community

Nominees will be evaluated using these criteria:

• Career Achievement
• Community Service
• Involvement, Innovation and Leadership

Completing the Nomination:

You are encouraged to work closely with your nominee to complete your nomination. Enhancing the strength and granularity of your nomination will significantly increase the likelihood of favorable consideration

Nominations for the Waco Under 40 Award must be submitted using this nomination form and format.

You are encouraged to include supporting documents (articles, testimonials, etc) with your completed nomination form, as this is what will be used to score applicants. 

Deadline for submission: Friday, May 12, 2025.

After your nomination submission is received, the Waco Chamber will reach out to your nominee to complete their application. Without their completed application, your nomination will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed by the Review and Recommendation Committee.

For questions contact Kacie Birkes at 254-757-5604 or by email at kbirkes@wacochamber.com