The Fellow Awards are an extension of the Computer History Museum’s overarching vision to explore the computing revolution and its worldwide impact on the human experience. The tradition began with the first Fellow, Grace Murray Hopper, inventor of the compiler, and has grown to a distinguished and select group of 47 members. This award represents the highest achievement in computing, honoring the innovators who have forever changed the world with their accomplishments.
Chosen on the basis of accomplishment Fellows are nominated by the Museum’s community and selected by a panel composed of Museum staff, historians, industry leaders, and other Computer History Museum Fellows.

Sufficient time must have elapsed between a specific contribution and an individual's nomination in order to properly assess the historical importance of his/her achievements. No preference is given to accomplishments in software or hardware, to computer science over electrical engineering or any other formal discipline, to commercial success, or to the nominee's age.

Each year, a “who’s who” of the technology world assembles at the museum for a banquet and ceremony to honor these industry leaders who have forever changed the world with their accomplishments. The event is made possible through corporate and individual sponsorships.