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ORAL HISTORY EDUCATOR AWARDS

The Southwest Oral History Association is pleased to announce the SOHA Oral History Educator Awards.  These annual awards will honor the individuals and/or projects in the states of Arizona, California, Nevada and New Mexico that best represent the exemplary use of oral history as an educational methodology at elementary and secondary levels.

Two outstanding educators/projects will be picked for special recognition for outstanding achievement:  one from the elementary level (K-6) and one from secondary (7-12).

Awards: Winners will receive:  An honorific award - SOHA Oral History Educator of the Year (Elementary or Secondary), one year complimentary membership in SOHA, an invitation to the annual SOHA meeting ($95 registration fee waived), and an invitation to present the project/program at the annual meeting.  Teachers attending the conference will receive certificates of professional development hours for recertification for all sessions attended.
Who may apply:  Individual educators and/or projects may apply.  Educational levels from K-12 and educational programs (such as Girl Scouts, The Boys and Girls Club, etc.) are eligible for the awards.  Nominations may be self-initiated or initiated by administrators, parents of involved students, or other interested parties.

The criteria for the award:

  • Demonstration of the highest standards and ethics of oral history as a process - The educator ensures that student historians recognize that a person’s oral history is the interviewee’s property.  No publication is made without written consent of persons whose history has been recorded. 
  • The innovative nature of the oral history curricula - Projects are designed to explore histories in unique ways that best suit the students and the subjects of the oral history.  Projects that are created from these histories may be varied and interesting. 
  • The merit of the oral history products developed          - Projects are appropriate and meaningful for the students involved. The project or program is age/grade level appropriate. 
  • The educational benefits and/or the educational merits of the applicant's career or project/program - The project or program meets state or national standards and objectives in one or more area. 
  • Oral history education conducted in the last three years will receive a majority of the consideration by the review panel.

Applications should include:  The applicant's name, address, educational institution, telephone, fax and e-mail numbers; the applicant's resume; a one to three page essay describing the project or program; and one letter of recommendation describing the educator’s use of oral history and the rationale for nomination. Supporting examples are optional.

Application dates:  Deadline for application for the 2007 awards (to be awarded at the annual SOHA conference in Tempe, AZ, April 18-20, 2008) is December 31, 2007.

If you have further questions e-mail:  sohateacherawards@yahoo.com

Application Form