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History Awards

​The Hopewell Valley Historical Society established an annual awards program in 2021 to recognize publicly the service and contributions of individuals, groups and organizations, and businesses to preserving the history of our community, making it more accessible to the public, and promoting its greater public appreciation.
 
The Society offers six (6) categories of awards:

  • The David L. Blackwell Award for Distinguished Service

  • The Award for Service

  • Outstanding Support for Hopewell Valley History Award

  • Student of Hopewell History Award

  • The William L. Kidder Award for ​Public History

  • Historic Preservation Award

 
Definitions and descriptions of these awards and the different kinds of service and contributions they recognize are explained in the Society’s History Awards Eligibility Criteria and Guidelines for Nominations.
 

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Nominations

The Society encourages all local residents, organizations, and businesses — not just members of the HVHS — to participate in the History Awards program by nominating those who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the cause of preserving Hopewell Valley history and sharing it with the public. 

 

A History Awards Nomination Form must be completed for each person or entity nominated, and only one (1) award category per nominee, please.  Additional pages may be attached to the nomination form if needed.  Detailed guidelines and eligibility criteria for nominations are provided.  (Note: The form is in fillable PDF format, and so can be edited directly in Acrobat.)

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​​​Eligibility Criteria and Guidelines for Awards

The Society’s History Awards Eligibility Criteria and Guidelines for Nominations will help in matching potential nominees to the right award category, and in distinguishing differences between the categories.
 
Each award category lists several eligibility criteria.  Nominees must meet one (1) or more of the criteria to be considered for an award.  Of course, the more criteria a nominee meets, the stronger the nomination and the greater the chances of being selected for an award.  Since the awards selection process is competitive, it is important that nominators make a strong case for each nominee.  Not every nomination will be successful.

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Awards Selection

The HVHS History Awards Committee will evaluate all nominations received by the due date established each year and published on the website - usually in August. (No nomination received after that date will be considered).  The Committee will determine whether nominations are in the correct award categories and whether nominees meet the appropriate eligibility criteria in those categories. 
 
The Committee may accept or reject nominations, and its award selection decisions are final.  The HVHS Board of Trustees will not overrule or reverse award selection decisions of the Committee.
 
In some cases the Awards Committee may advise a nominator that their nomination be held over, modified, and resubmitted in a future annual award cycle.  While such actions and advice of the Awards Committee will be recorded in its proceedings, they will be non-binding on the Committee in future awards cycles.
 
The Awards Committee will notify nominators directly of all decisions.​

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