The Karen H. Flowers Outstanding Service Award was given for the first time in 2010 as the New Friend of Scholastic Media Award. This award went to an individual who is not in the classroom but who has significantly supported scholastic journalism.

The first receipient of the award was Ruth McCune Hartness of Henderson, North Carolina, a board of education member who learned that students in two of Vance County's schools had experienced prior review, prior restraint and censorship and worked to ensure students' freedom of the press.

Purpose of the award

Scholastic journalism is important in our region's schools. Citizens in a democracy need to be informed by journalists who seek the truth and present it in a fair, objective and responsible way. Reporting and truth seeking must be protected.

The Outstanding Servie Award honors an individual who understands the importance of encouraging students to ask questions, probe and inform others. This award goes to an individual who is not in the classroom but who has significantly supported scholastic journalism and continues to do so.

Eligibility

Nominees should have contributed extraordinary amounts of time, talent and energy to scholastic journalism. Nominees can come from all walks of life:

• printers and publishers
• reporters and anchors
• scholastic journalism and press association directors
• school board members and government officials
• parents and teachers of subjects other than journalism
• ... and more

Nominators

Anyone connected with SIPA may make nominations for this award.

How to nominate:

In a nomination letter, explain your reasons for nominating the person for the Karen H. Flowers Outstanding Service Award

Letters supporting the nomination are welcome but not required