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Distinguished Service to Music Medal
The Distinguished Service to Music Medal is the highest award presented by the Fraternity. It was instituted in 1963 to honor outstanding individual contributions to bands. The areas of recognition include: composition, concert band, marching band, instrumental music education, artist performer, industrial research and progress, contributing laymen, alumni achievement, and fraternity service. Nominations are accepted by the National Council at any time and should include a letter of nomination, a resume, and letters of recommendation from individuals who know the nominee well.
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Bohumil Makovsky Memorial Award
The Bohumil Makovsky Memorial Award was first presented in 1979 to honor outstanding conductors in the college bands. “Boh” was the Director of Bands and Head of the Music Department at Oklahoma State University from 1915 until 1945 and is considered to be “The Guiding Spirit of Kappa Kappa Psi.” The recipient of this award is selected by a vote of the National Council.
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A. Frank Martin Award
Established in 1984 to recognize regionally known band directors and laymen who have made contributions to the band field. The award is named after A. Frank Martin who served as the first Grand President of the Fraternity from 1919-1921. Martin was then elected to the position of National Executive Secretary in 1939. Nominations for this award are accepted twice annually by the National Council by for consideration at the National Council meetings. Nominations are due by January 1 and July 1 and should include a letter of nomination with supporting documents.
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J. Lee Burke Student Achievement Award
This award was established in 1991 in order to recognize student leaders who have made outstanding contributions to college bands and the Fraternity. Dr. Burke served at Grand President from 1925-27 and was instrumental in drawing-up the first set of comprehensive by-laws and parliamentary procedures for Kappa Kappa Psi. Nominations for this award are accepted by the National Council by January 1 and July 1 of each year. Letters of nomination should include specific examples of the contributions this person has made.
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W. Francis McBeth Student Musicianship Award
Created at the 2011 National Convention, the W. Francis McBeth Student Musicianship Award honors current active, associate, and conditional members of Kappa Kappa Psi that exemplify the highest standards of Musical Achievement. W. Francis McBeth (1933-2012) was a world-renowned composer and conductor.
McBeth was appointed band director at Ouachita Baptist College (now Ouachita Baptist University) in 1957. He remained at OBU, retiring in 1996 as chairman of the theory and composition department, resident composer, and the Lena Shepperson Professor of Music. In 1971, McBeth served as the commissioning composer for the 1971 National Intercollegiate Band, which premiered his
work “The Seventh Seal.” In 1975, he was named composer laureate of Arkansas, the first composer laureate in the United States.
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Stanley G. Finck Memorial Award
This award was created to honor those individuals who exemplify the spirit of joint cooperation that Mr. Finck consistently demonstrated. This award is to be one of the highest honors that someone in either organization can receive. The award will be given only once a biennium per organization.
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The Silver Baton Award
The Silver Baton Award is intended to recognize individuals for their longevity and continuous quality service to bands. Chapters are able to present this award at local concerts, state music conventions, and or special public gatherings. Any chapter with the approval of its sponsor and Director of Bands may select and present the award. Chapters must use the Silver Baton Award Application Form and submit payment for the certificate.
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William Scroggs Founder’s Trophy
Since 1957, this award has been presented at each biennial convention to the outstanding chapter in the nation. The most prestigious award presented to Chapters is named for the first president of the Alpha Chapter. Chapters are eligible for this award by being selected for the Chapter Leadership Award. Presentations are made at the National Convention with the Leadership Awards Committee selecting the winner.
Chapter Leadership Award
During each biennium, outstanding chapters are selected by the National Council and presented recognition plaques at the National Convention. The Chapters selected for this award are interviewed by a committee which is responsible for selecting the recipient of the William Scroggs Founder’s Trophy. In order to be eligible for this award, Chapters must meet all report and fee deadlines as well as demonstrate excellence within the ideals of the Fraternity.
J. Lee Burke Trophy
The J. Lee Burke Trophy for best chapter display was established during the 1963 Biennial Convention at the University of Arizona. This award is presented by both organizations to the school that has the the best chapter display at National Convention. Selection of the winner is done by judges at the convention.
Kenneth M. Corbett Most Improved Chapter Award
This award honors those chapters that are committed to moving themselves, as well as the Fraternity, in a positive direction similar to the dedication shown by Mr. Corbett during his vast career in Kappa Kappa Psi. One chapter from each district will be nominated to receive this award. To be qualified, these chapters must have met all national obligations for the biennium, and have shown a concerted effort to improve the overall health of their chapter during the biennium. They must also have been free from disciplinary status for the biennium.
Scott Stowell Alumni Excellence Award
The Scott Stowell Alumni Excellence Award recognizes the continued dedication and service to Kappa Kappa Psi by alumni brothers who are neither elected nor appointed members of the fraternity’s National Leadership. The Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association seeks to recognize unsung heroes who exemplify the honor of service within our fraternity through their devotion of time, energy, and spirit while volunteering as advisors, mentors, and role models, their professional advice and networking support to other members of our fraternity, and their encouragement of active brothers toward greater participation and growth in band programs and as members of Kappa Kappa Psi. The Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association will confer the award to one recipient once per biennium, with this recognition made at National Convention.
Alumni brothers (including Life Members) become eligible five years after they last held active status in the fraternity. The fraternity’s District Governors, National Officers, Trustees, and KKPsiAA Board of Directors members are ineligible for two years after they last held any of these leadership positions.
Kappa Kappa Psi chapters, local alumni associations (LAAs), and individual alumni from either Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma may make nominations for this award. The submission deadline for nominations is May 15 of odd-numbered years (as National Conventions occur on such years).
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Citation of Excellence
The Citation of Excellence is designed to recognize outstanding achievement by junior and high school band members during summer camp activities and to help create an awareness of the national organizations. This special award is made available to chapters and summer band camp administrators upon request at no charge.
To order this award, click here to contact National Headquarters.
F. Lee Bowling Musical Excellence Award
In 1977 the delegates of the National Convention proposed this award to be presented to outstanding students in high school and junior high school music programs. It recognizes those students who have demonstrated excellence in their respective band program. F. Lee Bowling was elected as the Grand President at the 11th National Convention and had a key role in the formation of districts with governors to assist in the expansion program.
Chapters may order this award at any time using the Supply Order Form.
Chapter Sponsor Award
This award was established by the 1993-1995 National Council in efforts to give chapters a means to recognize sponsors who have shown outstanding service to the Fraternity and/or Sorority. Nominations should be submitted to the National Headquarters by January 1 of the convention year. Applications will be reviewed by the National Council and the award will be presented at the district or national convention.
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Academic Achievement Awards
This program was established by the 1991 National Convention to honor outstanding academic achievement of both individuals and active chapters. Applications should be submitted to the National Headquarters with a copy of a grade report at the end of each academic term. The Top Chapter Scholar Award is presented to the active member from the chapter with the highest GPA for a given academic term. The Outstanding Academic Achievement Award is given to active members of the chapter who achieve a 3.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for a particular term. The Chapter Certificate of Excellence in Academics is presented to chapters that achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better for a given academic term.
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National Convention Awards
At each biennial convention, a number of awards are presented for participation in National Convention. National Convention awards may vary slightly from convention to convention, but include the following:
- F. Lee Bowling Award: Given to the college or university that has the most members participating in the National Intercollegiate Band.
- The Delegate Distance Award: Given to the delegate who has traveled the greatest distance to National Convention.
- The Chapter Distance Award: Determined by multiplying the number of active members in attendance by the number of miles from the chapter’s school to the convention site.
- The Chapter Participation Award: Given to the chapter with the most active members in attendance at National Convention (excluding the host chapter).
- The J. Lee Burke Award for Best Chapter Display: Presented for the best chapter display at National Convention