»The Application Process
The 6 Step Guide to Diversifying Winners of Awards in Your Organization
The following list of recommendations was complied from our analysis of over 1,000 awards and 20,000 awardees.
Before you even think about awards --- are you a member of the organization that gives awards? Often a primary requirement.
Diversifying Awards --> 6 Steps
1. Get nominated.
- Self-nominate or ask a colleague to nominate you. Remember if you aren’t nominated you can’t win!
- Don't: Pass up an award because you think you won’t win.
2. Identify the proper award.
- Check previous award winners. Is their work similar to yours or that of your nominee?
- Check award timelines. Make sure to give yourself ample time to put together the best application.
- Think about the characteristics and attainments that are the most important for this award. Will it highlight your strengths?
- Find out who has been/ will be on the award committee. If you know a current or past committee member contact them to ask about the award process.
3. Learn about the nomination process
- Volunteer to serve on an awards committee.
- Look into unacknowledged rules (e.g. although the award language doesn’t say so, some awards may emphasize a major discovery while others may require sustained scholarly contributions over a whole career).
- How many nominators/ seconders will be needed?
4. Decide on the most effective nominator or secondary nominator
- Consider award experience. People who have previously received the award or been on the selection committee are both good choices.
- Consider prestige. Ask arbiters of quality in the field.
- Consider personal commitment:. Select people who are excited to endorse the candidate’s success!
- Identify the specific role that the nominators/seconders will play and discuss it with them when you ask them for letters. Will they write about a certain aspect of the person’s work or career? Are they able to talk about the candidate from a personal point of view and/or from the point of view as an arbiter of quality in the field?
- Don't: Ask someone who may see the nominee as competition for the award.
- Don't: Ask someone if you are concerned that they may not follow-through.
- Don't: Ask someone who you may have doubts about.
- Don't: Be vague in your request.
5. Submit the award.
- FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. Award applications may be discarded if you fail to abide by the instructions.
- Confirm the receipt of the materials.
6. Resubmit the award.
- BE PERSISTENT! Award recipients often have to “wait their turn” on a list.
- Find out whether or not the nomination will be carried forward. If not, find out what additional information is required.
- Don't: Be discouraged!
Suggests are welcome. Send us your questions and concerns so that to facilitate preparation of this section.
