The purpose and scope of awards given by the Santa Fe Trail Association are addressed in the Association's bylaws. The bylaws read: "The Association from time to time shall present various awards to persons or entities who have furthered the goals and purposed of the Association. The policies and the various award categories shall be approved by the Board. The Awards Committee shall be empowered to carry out the policies and procedures of the awards program."

2011 Awards Recipient List

Categories

Award of Merit
Who is Eligible:		Individuals, Organizations, Businesses or Groups.
Frequency/Number:		A maximum of four (4) every year (Symposium/Rendezvous).
Criteria:		Those who have made a significant contribution to the preservation, protection and promotion of the Santa Fe Trail or the Santa Fe Trail Association. Past awards have been made for books published on the Santa Fe Trail, significant articles of new information published on the Trail, publicity efforts of a newspaper and a television station, the preservation of SFT sites, organization of special events, significant chapter projects, etc.
Type of Award:		Engraved plaque.

 

Paul Bentrup Ambassador Award
Who is Eligible:		Individuals who are currently members in good standing of the SFTA.
Frequency/Number:		One (1) every year (Symposium/Rendezvous).
Criteria:		Persons clearly identified with promotion of the Santa Fe Trail Association, development and dissemination of knowledge of Trail history, preservation of Trail related ruts, artifacts, or historical sites, or which otherwise promote the knowledge and understanding of the Santa Fe Trail in the history of the United States.
Type of Award:		Engraved plaque.

 

Jack D. Rittenhouse Memorial Stagecoach Award
Who is Eligible:		Individuals who are currently members in good standing of the SFTA.
Frequency/Number:		One (1) every two years (Symposium year).
Criteria:		Extraordinary achievement and lifetime contributions to the SFT, including lifetime achievement in research and writing about the history of the SFT.
Type of Award:		Engraved plaque; $250; a Pendleton Santa Fe Trail Blanket.

 

Ralph Hathaway Memorial Heritage Preservation Award
Who is Eligible:		Landowners, former landowners, leaseholders, or tenants of SFT ruts, remnants, structures, or sites.
Frequency/Number:		One (1) every year (Symposium/Rendezvous).
Criteria:		Landowners, former landowners, leaseholders, or tenants who have preserved and protected significant portions of the SFT and provided for public access.
Type of Award:		Engraved plaque.

 

Educator Award
Who is Eligible:		Teachers or educators
Frequency/Number:		A maximum of two (2) awards every two years (Symposium year).
Criteria:		Outstanding teaching about the SFT. Procedure: The SFTA Education Committee judges the nominations and recommends the recipient to the Awards Committee, who then assists the Education Committee in the preparation of and presentation of the award.
Type of Award:		Engraved plaque; $100..

 

Gregory Franzwa Memorial for Lifetime Achievement Award
Who is Eligible:		Any Santa Fe Trail Association member.
Frequency/Number:		One (1) every two years (Rendezvous year).
Criteria:		Extraordinary lifetime achievement in the preservation, protection, and promotion of the Santa Fe Trail.
Type of Award:		Engraved plaque; $100.

 

Louise Barry Writing Award
Who is Eligible:		Authors of a significant article or book about the Trail.
Frequency/Number:		One (1) every two years (Rendezvous year).
Criteria:		Best original article or book about the history of the SFT based on research in primary sources. Procedure: A subcommittee of three persons (appointed by the Awards Committee) will judge the qualified material. The Awards Committee will assist the subcommittee in the preparation of and presentation of the award.
Type of Award:		Engraved plaque.

 

Marc Simmons Writing Award
Who is Eligible:		Contributors to Wagon Tracks.
Frequency/Number:		One (1) award in each of two categories, every two years Symposium year). Awards will only be made if worthy material is published.
Criteria:		Category 1 - Best original article about the history of the SFT based on research in primary sources. Category 2 - Best edited work of a previously unpublished source on the SFT. Procedure: A subcommittee of three persons (appointed by the Awards Committee) who have not contributed to Wagon Tracks during the two years under consideration will judge the qualified articles that have appeared during the two years and select the recipient of each of these awards. The Awards Committee will assist the subcommittee in the preparation of and presentation (by Marc Simmons if possible) of the award.
Type of Award:		Engraved plaque; $50 in each category.

 

Scholarship Award
Who is Eligible:		Students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs at any college or university throughout the United States.
Frequency/Number:		One (1) award in each of two categories, every two years Symposium year). Awards will only be made if worthy material is submitted.
Criteria:		Category 1 - The best undergraduate student research paper on the SFT in the past two years as determined by a juried competition. Maximum length of paper considered is 25 pages, double-spaced including documentation. Category 2 - The best graduate student research paper on the SFT in the past two years as determined by a juried competition. Maximum length of paper considered is 25 pages, double-spaced including documentation. Procedure: Nomination is by the student's professor in whose class the paper was written. A subcommittee will judge the nominations and select the recipients. The Awards Committee will assist the subcommittee (or the Awards Committee will decide) in the preparation of and presentation of the award.
Type of Award:		Engraved plaque; $500 in each category, and publication of the paper by the Santa Fe Trail Association.

 

Nomination Procedure

Unless otherwise indicated above, anyone may make a nomination for an award. Nominations for each award should consist of:

• The name and address of the person, entity or organization being nominated
• A paragraph telling why the award should be received according to the criteria for each award in the
  award schedule.
• Name, address, telephone number, and/or email address of the nominator. Additionally for the Educator's Awards:
  • The name and location of the teacher and how the teaching about the Trail is handled
    (i.e., a 9-week unit, etc.).
  • List the objectives, materials used, developing and culminating activities.