The ACS celebrates the achievements of local sections annually at the ChemLuminary Awards held during the fall ACS National Meeting & Exposition. The awards ceremony gives members the opportunity to recognize local sections, technical divisions, regional meetings, and international chemical sciences chapters for their tireless efforts and work in promoting chemistry and the chemical sciences during the previous year.
The Georgia Local Section has been an award finalist and recipient numerous times over the years, as indicated in the list below. Finalists and awards in a given year refer to events and activities of the previous year.
| Award Year (# of Finalists) | Award Finalists (Winners in Bold) |
| 2022 (5) | Best Overall Local Section Minority Affairs Fostering Interactions between Local Sections and Student Chapters Most Creative & Innovative Use of the CCEW Theme Outstanding American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT) Support Award Outstanding Women Chemists Local Section Event |
| 2021 (6) | Best New Public Relations Program of a Local Section Best Overall Local Section Minority Affairs Local Section Partnership Award/Marinda Li Wu Award Outstanding American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT) Support Award Outstanding Local Section Career Program Award Best Continuing Senior Chemists Activity within a Local Section |
| 2020 (7) | ACS President’s Award for Local Section Government Affairs Most Creative & Innovative Use of the CCEW Theme Most Creative NCW Celebration Using the Yearly Theme Outstanding Community Involvement in CCEW Best Continuing Senior Chemists Activity within a Local Section Outstanding High School Student Program Award Outstanding U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad |
| 2019 (14) | Best NCW Event Organized by a Student Group Most Creative & Innovative Use of the CCEW Theme Outstanding Community Involvement in NCW Outstanding Ongoing CCEW Event Outstanding Ongoing NCW Event Outstanding Public Outreach Event Organized by a Student Group Outstanding Sustainability Activities Best Overall Local Section Minority Affairs Best Ongoing Senior Activity in a Local Section that Benefits the Community, Local Schools, or Legislative Government Fostering Interactions between Local Sections and Student Chapters Outstanding High School Student Program Award Outstanding Kids and Chemistry Award Outstanding U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad Outstanding or Creative Local Section Younger Chemists Committee Event |
| 2018 (5) | Outstanding On-going Chemists Celebrate Earth Day Event Outstanding Public Outreach Event Organized by a Student Group Best Overall Local Section Minority Affairs Outstanding U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad Best Overall WCC Local Section |
| 2017 (1) | Outstanding Chemistry Olympiad Program |
| 2016 (1) | Outstanding Performance by a Large Local Section |
| 2015 (1) | Outstanding Regional Meeting (SERMACS 2013 in Atlanta) |
| 2014 (8) | Outstanding Performance by a Local Section (Large Size) Outstanding Local Section Industry Event (Chemical Business Symposium at SERMACS) Outstanding Collaboration – Local Section and Division (Chemical Business Symposium at SERMACS) Most Innovative New Activity or Program (Chemical Business Symposium at SERMACS) Outstanding Local Section Career Program (Large to Very Large) Best Overall Local Section Minority Affairs Committee Outstanding Continuing Public Relations Program of a Local Section ACS President’s Award for Local Section Government Affairs |
| 2013 (11) | Outstanding Performance by a Large Local Section Most Creative NCW Activity Using the Yearly Theme Outstanding Community Activities in Chemists Celebrate Earth Day Outstanding Local Section Industry Event Outstanding Local Section Career Program Best Program Stimulating Member Involvement Best Local Section Partnership Award Outstanding Continuing Public Relations Program Outstanding Project SEED Award Outstanding Collaboration by Division and Local Section Best Overall Local Section Minority Affairs Committee |
| 2012 (5) | Outstanding Performance by a Large Local Section Outstanding Local Section and Division Collaboration Outstanding Continuing Public Relations Program Fostering Local Section and Student Chapters Interactions Best Overall Minority Affairs Committee |
| 2011 (6) | Outstanding Performance by a Large Local Section Best Overall Minority Affairs Committee Best NCW Student Chapter Event Outstanding Career Program Outstanding K-12 Teacher/Education Program Best Program Stimulating Membership Involvement |
| 2010 (3) | Outstanding New or Innovative Single Event Promoting Women Outstanding Community Involvement in NCW Creative Younger Chemists Committee Event |
| 2009 (4) | Outstanding Performance by a Large Local Section Outstanding Career Program Best New Public Relations Program Best NCW High School Event |
| 2008 (6) | Outstanding Performance by a Large Local Section Best Overall Minority Affairs Committee Outstanding Continuing Public Relations Program Outstanding Kids & Chemistry Education Outstanding Outreach to Girls or Young Women Outstanding Single Event Promoting Women |
| 2007 (7) | Outstanding Performance by a Large Local Section Outstanding Single Event Promoting Women Best New Public Relations Program Best PR Activity Stimulating Membership Involvement Outstanding Outreach to Girls or Young Women Outstanding Local Section and Division Interaction Outstanding Kids & Chemistry Education |
| 2006 (2) | Outstanding Advocacy on Behalf of Women in the Chemical Sciences Outstanding Kids and Chemistry Education |
| 2004 (2) | ACS Presidents Award for Government Affairs Most Innovative New Section Activity |
| 2003 (1) | ACS Presidents Award for Government Affairs |
ACS Georgia Section 