Awards and Recognition
Board of Supervisors (2013 - Present)
- abilitypath Visionary Leader & Social Impact Award (2024)
- American Muslim Voice Foundation - Virtuous Public Official Award
- Armenian Apostolic Church - St. Nerses the Graceful Medal of Honor
- Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) - Health Champion Award
- Association of California School Administrators (Region 8) - 2024 Partners in Education Excellence Award
- Association of California School Administrators (Statewide) - 2024 Partners in Education Excellence Award
- Behavioral Health Contractors' Association of Santa Clara County Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation (2024)
- California Library Association - President's Award
- California State Legislature Assembly Resolution (2024)
- Cities Association of Santa Clara County Champion of the Year 2024
- City of Palo Alto Proclamation in Recognition of Joe Simitian (2024)
- City of Mountain View Commendation Honoring Supervisor Joe Simitian for his exemplary contributions (2024)
- City of Saratoga City Council Commendation Honoring Supervisor Joe Simitian (2016, 2024)
- Congress of the United States House of Representatives 118th Congress Recognition of Supervisor Joe Simitian (2024)
- Eden Housing - Civic Leader of the Year (2022)
- Fast Company Magazine - First Place, 2016 Policy Hackathon
- Foothill-De Anza Community College District - Amicus Collegii
- Friends of Buena Vista Mobile Home Park - Thank You Resolution
- Institute for Nonviolence - Civil Rights Award
- Kids in Common - Bold Steps for Children Award
- Kiwanis Club of Palo Alto - Honorary Member
- Leadership Sunnyvale - Political Leader Award
- Los Altos Chamber of Commerce - New Member of the Year
- Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation - John W. Gardner Community Impact Recognition (2024)
- Magical Bridge Foundation - Recognition as a Most Magical Person
- Metropolitan Education District - Recognition of support for the development of new programs at the Silicon Valley Career Technical Education Center
- Midpenninsula Open Space District Proclamation Honoring Supervisor Joe Simitian (2024)
- MOVE Mountain View - Mover & Shaker Award 2024 for distinguished service in our community
- NAMI-Santa Clara County 2024 Community Merit Award
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) San Jose/Silicon Valley - Legislator of the Year
- Parents Helping Parents - Building Bright Futures Award
- Planned Parenthood Mar Monte - Steadfast Commitment to Access to Health Care and Author of SCC Board Resolution Defending Reproductive Freedom (2023)
- Project We Hope - Advocate for the Homeless
- Recovery Café San Jose - Bridge Builder Award
- Rotary Club of Los Altos - Paul Harris Fellow
- San Andreas Regional Center - Legislator of the Year, Service Above Self Award (2024) and Lanternman Act Legacy Award
- San Jose District 10 Leadership Coalition Proclamation
- Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Board - Community Hero Award
- Santa Clara County Democratic Club - Award for Leadership and Service to the Community
- Santa Clara County Medical Association - 2023 Citizen's Award
- Santa Clara County PTA (Sixth District) - Golden Oak Service Award
- Santa Cruz, City of - 2024 Key to the City, Pollution Prevention Award
- Saratoga City Council - Commendation for Service to the Saratoga Senior Center
- Saratoga Senior Center - 30th Anniversary Honor, Commitment to Senior Care
- SASCC Dick Angus Lifetime Achievement Award for Age Friendly Excellence (2024)
- Save Our Shores - Ocean Hero of the Year
- Sierra Club (Loma Prieta Chapter) - Environmental Hero
- Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits - Changemaker Award
- Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) - Game Changer
- Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce - Murphy Award
- Unity Care - Gratitude Award
State Legislature (2000-2012)
Environment
- Bluewater Network - Environmental Leadership Award
- Breathe California - Clean Air Award for Leadership
- Californians Against Waste - Legislator of the Year
- California Park & Recreation Society Honor Roll
- Environment California - Environmental Champion
- Green California - Environmental Champion
- Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District - Resolution for authoring SB 953 and support of district
- Santa Clara County League of Conservation Voters - Legislator of the Year
- Vote the Coast - Coastal Steward Award; Coastal Champion Award
K-12 Education
- The Advancement Project - Water Cooler Conference Award (SB 1381 - The Kindergarten Readiness Act)
- Association of California School Administrators - Friend of Education
- Association of Low Wealth Schools - Legislator of the Year
- California Association of Student Councils - Legislator of the Year
- California County Boards of Education - Outstanding Legislator of the Year
- California County Superintendents Educational Services Association - Legislator of the Year
- California Kindergarten Association - Special Recognition Award for the Kindergarten Readiness Act (SB 1381)
- California League of Middle Schools - Legislator of the Year
- California Network of Educational Charters - California Legislator of the Year
- California Reading Association - Policymaker of the Year
- California School Boards Association - Outstanding Legislator of the Year
- California PTA - Honorary Service Award
- Early Intervention for School Success (EISS) - Education Advocate of the Year 2012
- Menlo Park PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) Honorary Service Award
- Palo Alto Council of PTAs - Recognition for Leadership in Legislative Advocacy
- Palo Alto Educators’ Association - Sally Siegel Friend of Education
- Preschool California - Early Learning Lifetime Achievement Award
- Ravenswood City School District - Resolution for Legislative Advocacy
- San Mateo County PTA (Seventeenth District) - Continuing Service Award
- Schools for Sound Finance (SF)² - Saving Our Bacon Award
- Schools for Sound Finance (SF)² - Special Friend of Basic Aid Schools
- Springboard Schools (currently Pivot Learning) - Education Leader of the Year
Higher Education
- Alumni Associations of the University of California - Legislator of the Year
- California State University System - Legislator of the Year
- San Mateo County Community College District - Courage in Educational Leadership Award
- Silicon Valley Alliance - Adult and Career Educator of the Year
Children & Youth
- California Children’s Health Initiatives - Champion for Children Award
- Child Care Coordinating Council (4 C’s) of San Mateo County - The Mary Petsche Award for Visionary Leadership
- Child Development Policy Institute - Children’s Champion Award
- Friends for Youth - Making a Difference Award
Safety & Consumer Protection
- CalPIRG - Consumer Champion Award
- Consumer Federation of California - Consumer Leadership Award
- Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California - Crime Fighter Award
- Elder Financial Protection Network - Donald N. Phelps Visionary Award
- Are You Dense? - Champion of Exposing the Secret
Business & Technology
- AeA (American Electronics Association) - High-Tech Legislator of the Year
- Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies (CEERT) - Clean Power Champion
- Design-Build Institute of America - Distinguished Leadership Award
- Power Association of Northern California - Person of the Year
- RSA Conference - Award for Excellence in Public Policy
- SC Media/Magazine - Industry Pioneer, Information Security
- Scientific American - One of the “Scientific American 50” Leaders in Technology
- SolarTech - Solar Hero Award
- Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce - Murphy Award
Community
- Alliance for Community Media, Western States - Community Media Legislative Champion
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Santa Cruz County - True Patriot Award
- Arthritis Foundation (Northern California) - Public Policy Award
- California Library Association - Legislator of the Year
- California National Organization for Women (NOW) - Legislator of the Year
- Council of State Governments - Henry Toll Fellowship
- CreaTV San Jose - Community Media Champion
- Equality California - Building a State of Equality Award
- Jewish Community Center - JCC Community Service Award
- Junior Leagues of California - Legislator of the Year
- League of California Cities - Outstanding Leadership
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society - California Legislator of the Year
- National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC), San Mateo/Santa Clara County Chapter - Good Guy Award
- Peninsula Interfaith Action - Community Hero
- Planned Parenthood Advocates (Mar Monte) - Voices for Change Legislator Award
- Redwood City Public Library - “Fueling the Fire of Hope” Award
- San Andreas Regional Center - Legislator of the Year
- Santa Clara County Democratic Club - Distinguished Legislator Award
- Silicon Valley Asian Pacific American Democratic Club - Legislator of the Year