Dear SEDAAG members,
The SEDAAG Honors Committee is seeking nominations for the annual awards given at the annual regional meeting. Please see the list of awards below, though note that these awards are separate from the Student Honors competitions. Information for those competitions is posted on the SEDAAG Website.
Complete submissions for the SEDAAG Honors nominees should be sent in PDF format (multiple file submissions are perfectly fine) to Dr. Matthew Cook, Honors Committee chair, at mcook40@emich.edu. All honors-related questions should also be directed to Dr. Cook.
AWARDS
Lifetime Achievement Award: Nominees for this award should meet the following criteria: (1) An extensive record of research and publication in scholarly journals, books, and other appropriate formats; (2) A record of excellence in teaching and advising as evidenced by teaching awards, students advised, and other appropriate measures; (3) A record of service contributions to the individual’s educational institution in the form of administrative positions, committee work, and community contact; (4) A record of support to the geography profession whether through formal services to international, national, or regional organizations or informal work in the public domain.
Research Honors Award: Nominees for this award should meet the following criteria: (1) A significant record of quality research and publication in scholarly journals, books, and other appropriate formats. This record may reflect the cumulative work of several years or the publication of important contributions in a shorter period of time; (2) Evidence of research leadership at both an institutional (college, university, industry) and organizational level (professional associations) where scholarly papers are presented and students and colleagues are advised.
Outstanding Service Award: Nominees for this award should meet the following criteria: (1) Evidence of exceptional professional commitment to geography at any level, including service to professional organizations; colleges and universities; primary and secondary education; local, state, or national government; private business and industry; (2) Examples of worthy contributions include but are not limited to appointed or elected professional offices, journal editorships, professional organization committees, speaking or otherwise providing leadership in a variety of public forums, and publication in the popular press.
Excellence in Teaching Award: Nominations are invited for the SEDAAG Excellence in Teaching Award. The award acknowledges sustained excellence and creativity in the college classroom. Nominations from current and former students are especially welcome. Nominees for this award should meet the following criteria: (1) Exceptional commitment to effective geography teaching; (2) Record of efforts to help diffuse excellent geography teaching beyond one’s immediate classroom (teaching-related publications, workshops, web sites, textbooks, etc.); (3) Recognition of teaching excellence by department, school, or other organizations; (4) Support of teaching excellence via student evaluations or comments.
Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring Award: Nominations are invited for the SEDAAG Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring Award. Some faculty spend many hours helping students to come up with research ideas, and then help students develop those ideas into poster or oral presentations without recognition as a co-author. The award acknowledges sustained excellence in undergraduate mentoring. Nominations from current and former students are especially welcome. Nominees for this award should meet the following criteria: (1) Sustained involvement as mentor or advisor to students making poster or oral presentations; (2) Record of student successes at state, regional and/or national meetings; (3) Recognition of mentoring excellence by the department, school, or other organizations can come in the form of letters, prior awards, and other documents.
Merle C. Prunty Student Scholarship: The Southeastern Division of the Association of American Geographers annually awards the Merle C. Prunty Scholarship to an outstanding undergraduate student from our region with the objective of encouraging talented undergraduate students to pursue professional careers in geography. Eligibility: Applicants must currently be juniors or seniors and enrolled as geography majors (or geography minors) in a college or university located within the Southeastern Division. Applicants must demonstrate an interest in pursuing a professional career or the clear potential to pursue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree. Applicants are evaluated by the SEDAAG Honors Committee on the basis of scholastic record and professional promise.
Notification: Award recipients will be named at the Honors Banquet at the 2019 Division meeting in Wilmington, North Carolina. If not present, recipients and applicants will be informed of the outcome by e-mail.
Application Materials: Materials submitted in the application must include: (1) A cover letter that includes a summary of educational background and academic honors; (2) A full CV of the candidate; (3) Letters of recommendation from three persons familiar with the applicant’s qualifications; and (4) One copy of each undergraduate transcript inclusive of college course work through Summer 2019 for the Prunty Scholarship.