The Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) was established by the Washington State Legislature in March 1984 to be administered by the Commission for Vocational Education. The award is to be given to a graduating vocational high school student and is to be based on such criteria as character, attitude, attendance, leadership, civic activities, and proficiency in the student's chosen field. Nominations for the award are to be submitted by the vocational instructor to a school-level WAVE coordinator whose job it is both to administer and promote the program at the school level and to serve as a liaison with the State WAVE selection committee. Composed of representatives of the business, labor, vocational education, vocational administrator, community college, and school board sectors, the State committee then selects up to three WAVE recipients for each legislative district from among the nominations. The WAVE Program Guidelines outline such aspects of the WAVE program as program administration and operation, student eligibility requirements, school- and state-level nomination procedures, notification of WAVE winners, and sample nomination and transmittal forms. (MN)