Scholarships and Awards

Home ---- Educators ---- Parents ---- Advocacy ---- Events---- GAM by District ---- DESE ---- Contact GAM---- GAMGoodNews ---- Join GAM

	The Gifted Association of Missouri 2012 Awards
	Congratulatons to all of our winners!
	Friend of Gifted Award David Martin Each year the Gifted Association of Missouri receives nominations of individuals who have made outstanding contribu-tions to the field of gifted education in Missouri. This year, we recognize Rountree Elementary Principal, David Martin, with the GAM Friend of Gifted Award for 2012. Here is just a sample from the many nomination letters we received: “Mr. Martin shepherds a learning community in which gifted student are not only challenged academically, but also feel accepted and cher-ished for who they are.” “Mr. Martin not only takes actions him-self to support gifted kids, but he fosters that supportive atmos-phere among the school faculty” “Mr. Martin takes the time to listen and offer suggestions about how ideas can be implemented 21 or further researched. His attitude and positive influence reflects upon the teachers and staff.” “I am grateful for Mr. Martin. His work changed my son’s life, and he is truly a friend to all gifted students in Springfield, Missouri.” This year’s Friend of Gifted Award recipient, Mr. David Martin.

	Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award Savannah Stringer Each year the Gifted Association of Missouri acknowl-edges one student to receive the Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award. This award is designed to recognize student achievement in academics, leadership, and/or the arts. We believe the award inspires children to achieve their fullest potential, high-lights high-ability students, and draws attention to the educational needs of our nation's gifted and talented students. This year’s award recipient is Savannah Stringer from Springfield. Savannah is a 6th grade student in the Springfield Scholars Program and the daughter of Ben & Kristi String-er. Please help me congratulate Miss Savannah Stringer the 2012 Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award recipient.

	Outstanding Educator of Gifted Award Mary Fritchie The Outstanding Educator of Gifted Award is given to an educator who has made outstanding contributions to the field of gifted education in Missouri. This year’s recipient is Mrs. Mary Fritchie from the Independence School District. A number of letters were sent in on Mrs. Fritchie’s behalf. Here are just a few comments from her colleagues, friends and parents: “Mary has worked over three decades to positively impact the lives of thousands of students, her impact on gifted education has been tremendous.” Mary is willing to artfully initiate the fierce con-versations necessary to craft and cultivate constructive dialogue at the district and state level on issues that impact gifted stu-dents.” “In Independence, when we think of Gifted – we think of Mary Fitchie.” Please help me congratulate the 2012 Outstanding Educator of gifted, Mrs. Mary Fritchie.

	Delma Johnson Memorial Scholarship Jonna Choat Delma Johnson was instrumental in founding the GAM organization in 1981. Her tireless work is memorialized in schol-arships presented in her name. This year, the Delma Johnson Memorial scholarship goes to Jonna Choat from Phelps Center for Gifted Education in Springfield. Letters in support Jonna stated: “Mrs. Choat genuinely cares for and knows each individ-ual student and goes the extra mile to facilitate our parent-of-gifted book discussions.” “Mrs. Choat is a gifted individual pas-sionate about gifted education…” “Students of all ages come back year after year to visit Mrs. Choat with hugs and thanks.” “Mrs. Choat is completely dedicated to preparing gifted children to experience healthy and successful lives.” This year’s Delma Johnson Memorial Scholarship recipient, Mrs. Jonna Choat.

	Bob Roach Scholarship for New Teachers of Gifted Seth Jaeger In 1999, GAM created the New Teacher Scholarship to promote the certification of teachers in the field of gifted educa-tion. The award was renamed the Bob Roach Scholarship for New Teachers of Gifted in 2007, after Gifted Educator and Ad-vocate, Bob Roach. In 2010, the gifted community lost this life-long educator and friend. In his memory, the Gifted Association of Missouri awards the Bob Roach Scholarship each year to pro-mote gifted certification and to honor his life-long commitment to gifted education. This year, the scholarship is awarded to Seth Jaeger from Ozark. Seth got his first taste of gifted as a long-term sub in a gifted classroom. The following year, he went to work in his hometown of Ozark. Over the past 6 years, Seth’s interest in the brightest yet most at-risk students has grown, and this year, he has taken on the secondary gifted program in Ozark. Seth is a dedicated and creative educator, which makes him the ideal re-cipient of the Bob Roach Scholarship for New Teachers of Gift-ed.” Please help me congratulate Seth Jaeger.

	Dede Smith Memorial Scholarship Sue Wagner The Dede Smith Memorial Scholarship is awarded an-nually at the GAM conference. Dede served as GAM president and GAMbit editor for several years. She was also the first Direc-tor of The Drury Center for Gifted Education. This year, the Gift-ed Association of Missouri awards Sue Wagner of St. Joseph, Missouri with the 2012 Dede Smith Memorial Scholarship. Read-ing from Sue Wagner’s letters of nomination: “Sue actively pro-motes gifted education through presentations at GAM, teacher workshops and parent groups.” “Sue is one of those rare educa-tors who consistently goes above and beyond .” “Sue is an exem-plary model for those of us who serve gifted children.” “Sue ex-emplifies a love of learning and sets the standard for all GAM members.” Our 2012 Dede Smith Scholarship recipient, Miss Sue Wagner.

Awards & Scholarships 2013

Printable Form

Through awards and scholarships, the Gifted Association of Missouri celebrates the efforts of many educators, parents, and friends as they continue expanding the promise of gifted education. Colleagues may nominate individuals for awards and submit letters of support to the Scholarship and Award Committee. This committee makes their recommendation to the GAM Board of Directors. Award recipients are honored in October at the annual Missouri Conference on Gifted Education. GAM award and scholarship recipients must be GAM members and attend the GAM Fall Conference on Gifted Education. Applications and nominations for these awards and scholarships should be submitted to the GAM Executive Secretary on or before September 1.

Friend of Gifted Award
GAM invites nominations of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of gifted education in Missouri. An individual who is eligible to be a recipient of this award will belong to one of the following categories: legislator or other elected official, administrator, counselor, regular classroom teacher, media person, business person or mentor. To nominate, please submit the following information:
· Name, address, and telephone number (home and work) of nominee
· Name, address, and telephone number (home and work) of person making the nomination
· A letter from the person making the nomination stating why the individual is being recommended for the award
· At least two additional letters of support (with names and addresses) must accompany each nomination
· Letters should cite specific examples of nominee’s contributions to gifted education

Outstanding Educator of Gifted Award
GAM invites nominations of those educators who have made outstanding contributions to the field of gifted education in Missouri. Eligible nominees will belong to one of the following categories: teacher of gifted, coordinator of gifted programming, or college professor directly involved with either gifted students or teachers of gifted. To nominate, please submit the following information:
·- Name, address, and telephone number (home and work) of nominee
· -Name, address, and telephone number (home and work) of person making the nomination
· -A letter from the person making the nomination stating why the individual is being recommended for the award
· -At least two additional letters of support (with names and addresses) must accompany each nomination
· -Letters should cite specific examples of nominee’s contributions to gifted education

Parent of Gifted Award
GAM invites nominations of those parents who have made outstanding contributions to the field of gifted education in Missouri. Eligible nominees will belong to one of the following categories: parent, step-parent, or guardian of a gifted child in the state of Missouri. To nominate, please submit the following information:
· -Name, address, and telephone number (home and work) of nominee
· -Name, address, and telephone number (home and work) of person making the nomination
· -A letter from the person making the nomination stating why the individual is being recommended for the award
· -At least two additional letters of support (with names and addresses) must accompany each nomination
· -Letters should cite specific examples of nominee’s contributions to gifted education

Memorial Scholarships
GAM presents two $250 scholarships at the Gifted Association of Missouri Conference in the memory of the organization’s early leaders, Dede Smith, Delma Johnson, and Norine Kerber. Smith and Johnson helped found GAM in 1981, and Kerber, soon joined the leadership group. The tireless work of these leaders is memorialized in the cash scholarships presented in their names. The Dede Smith Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually. The Delma Johnson Memorial Scholarship and the Norine Kerber Memorial Scholarship are presented in alternate years.
The Mercedes “Dede” Smith Memorial Scholarship
The Dede Smith Memorial Scholarship is used to recognize teachers for their contributions on behalf of gifted children. Dede, one of GAM’s founders, served as president and editor for several years. The Missouri Scholars Academy came into being under her insightful guidance. She initiated and served as Director of Drury’s Center for Gifted Education until her death, December 15, 1991. The Dede Smith Scholarship is awarded by nomination. To nominate, please submit the following information:
· -Name, address, and telephone number (home and work) of nominee
· -Name, address, and telephone number (home and work) of person making the nomination
· -A one page biography of the nominee
· -A letter from the person making the nomination stating why the individual is being recommended for the scholarship
The Norine Kerber & Delma Johnson Memorial Scholarships
The Norine Kerber & Delma Johnson Memorial Scholarships are given in alternating years. These scholarships are used to recognize teachers for their contributions on behalf of gifted children. To nominate an individual or to apply yourself, please submit the following information:
· -Name, address, telephone number (home and work)
· -One page biography of the nominee or applicant
· -A letter stating why you are applying or nominating, and why the scholarship should be awarded to you or the individual who is being recommended for the scholarship

New Teacher Scholarship
In 1999, GAM created the New Teacher Scholarship to promote the certification of teachers in the field of gifted education. In 2007, the award was renamed the Bob Roach Scholarship for New Teachers in honor of the continuous commitment of gifted educator, Bob Roach. In 2010, the gifted community lost this life-long educator and friend. GAM honors Bob’s passion for Gifted Education with a $250 scholarship awarded annually at the Gifted Association of Missouri Conference
The Bob Roach Scholarship for New Teachers
Applicants must have completed at least two classes towards certification in gifted education. Teachers in the first or second year of teaching gifted are eligible to apply. They must be in the process of gifted certification at the time of application. To apply:
· -Name, address, telephone number (home and work)
· -One page biography
· -One page letter explaining why you should be chosen
· -Letter of reference from a supervisor, parent, or university professor

All applications and nominations should be submitted on or before September 1
Gifted Association of Missouri
Executive Secretary – Awards & Scholarships
P.O. Box 3252, Springfield, MO 65808

Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award

Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Application Form

The Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award is awarded to one student in each state. Recipients are given a $250 prize from the Gifted Association of Missouri along with a Certificate of Excellence by the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). Students selected for the award are between grades 3 and 6 and have distinguished themselves in academic achievement, leadership, visual or performing arts. Please see our website for additional information.
Nominations for the Missouri NGDS Award must be postmarked by May 1

The award program was established through funds provided by Maggie and Reg Green to honor the memory of their seven-year-old son, Nicholas, who was killed in a drive-by shooting while vacationing in Italy in 1994. The Greens felt it was important to recognize the gifts and talents in children who are now at the age that Nicholas was when he died. NAGC is honored to be part of the Greens’ generous spirit. That the award exists is a tribute to the determination of the Greens to take a terrible tragedy and turn it into a positive force of recognition

Please mail application and parental release form to:
Gifted Association of Missouri
Executive Secretary - Nicholas Green Award
P.O. Box 3252
Springfield, MO 65808