[Aerial Photo Credits: Gavin Fleming]

IN RECOGNITION OF THE RECIPIENT’S DEDICATION, CREATIVITY AND ENTHUSIASM AS A GEOGRAPHY TEACHER

Elize van Niekerk (with Pam Esterhuysen and Heather Auchterlonie)

Trudy Vermeulen, Christie de Wet and Aranka Mennen

Winner of the Mergin Map Quiz Competition Matthew Pantland (with Gavin Fleming)

Winner of the Welwitschia painting Sue Thompson

Call for nominations for SAGTA Awards (2024)

This is a call for nominations to be submitted for the annual SAGTA awards to be awarded at the SAGTA Academic Conference Meeting 2024.

The extended deadlines to submit nominations are as follows:

• 30 April 2024– Nominations for ‘Contribution to Geography’ Award
• 30 April 2024– Special Awards - ‘Tony Hambly Fellowship Award’

Eligibility

1. All applicants must be current, paid-up members of SAGTA.
2. For additional information, refer to the award guidelines on the website, www. sagta.org.za/Awards.

To make a nomination

The Award requires a proposer and a seconder.

The proposer and/or seconder must each submit a 1-page motivation. The proposer is responsible for filling out the form from the website and submitting it.

Please read the supporting documentation.

All forms are available on the website.

All documentation must be emailed to [email protected] by 30 April 2024.

-- Nominations are now open for 2024 --

Downloads:

SAGTA Award Nomination Form

Doc 01 SAGTA AWARDS General Submissions Guidelines

Doc 02 SAGTA Contribution to Geography Award

Doc 03 SAGTA Tony Hambly Fellowship Award

General Submissions Guidelines (Doc 01)

SAGTA Awards Program

Thank you for your interest in nominating a person for a SAGTA Award. This document provides Additional Submission Guidelines for your nomination. Please read each section carefully and sign where directed on the Contact Information form you have read and complied with these directives. This is a must-read document for your nomination.

Application guidelines can be found at www.sagta.org.za/Awards.

Purpose of the SAGTA Awards

The Southern African Geography Teachers’ Association (SAGTA) strives to recognise the contributions and accomplishments of SAGTA members. SAGTA places high regard and value on recognising and honouring those who have made significant, tangible contributions to SAGTA, the empowerment of Geography Teachers and the promotion of the teaching of Geography in Southern Africa.

Application Deadlines

The ‘call for nominations’ begins on 1 January of each year. The deadline to submit nominations is as follows:

• 30 April – Nominations for the ‘Contribution to Geography’ Award
• 30 April - Special Awards – ‘Tony Hambly Fellowship Award’
• 31 August – Grant (visitorship) to attend an AAG Annual Conference / or other suitable academic conference in the following year
• 31 August - Excellence in Mentoring Award, AAG. Submission to SAGTA for approval
• 15 September – Closing date for AAG – Excellence in Mentoring Award

Eligibility

• Eligibility differs for each award.
• For additional information, refer to each award guidelines.
• The awards committee may also use their discretion to present an award to a non-SAGTA Geographer who has fulfilled the ‘Contribution to Geography’ Award criteria. This will recognise commitment and service to the wider Geography Community.

Not Eligible

• Eligibility differs for each award.
• Sitting members of the SAGTA committee who are nominees shall not participate in the nomination or evaluation process of the award for which they are nominated.
• Individuals or organisations failing to comply with SACE policies and procedures, including their Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, will not be considered.
• For additional information, refer to each award guidelines document.

Number of Awards

• The number of recipients differs for each award.
• SAGTA reserves the right not to select recipients for a particular year if the evaluations indicate that nominations do not meet the stated criteria.
• For additional information, refer to each award guidelines document.

Criteria

• Specific criteria are outlined in each award Application.
• Submissions must address each of the criterion elements.
• For additional information, refer to each award guidelines document.

Nomination Procedures

There shall be one designated proposed / lead nominator with whom SAGTA will communicate regarding the nomination.

Lead Nominator’s responsibilities:

• Must know the nominated application, research, contribution or nominee and the socio-economic benefits and principles applied
• Must document any direct/indirect personal or professional relationship of the lead nominator to the nominated application, product, research or nominee.
• Must ensure the nomination package is complete at the time of submission; incomplete nomination packages will not be evaluated.
• Review the specific eligibility, restrictions and content outlined in each award document.
• You must ensure the following documents are included in the submission. Failure to provide the necessary forms will eliminate the nomination from consideration.

SAGTA Permissions and Release Form

The nominee/owner of any product or application being considered for a SAGTA Award must complete and sign the form confirming that the information presentation represents the nominee, product, application, research or service.

Lead Nominators (unless you are also the nominee/owner of the product, application, and research) must forward this form to the nominee and ensure that the nominee signs, dates, and returns the form that must be included in the nomination package. The form will not count toward the stated page count maximum.

SAGTA Contact Information Form

This document lists the contact information for the lead nominator, seconder, and nominee, etc. Available on each awards web page, this form will not count toward the stated page count maximum.

Nomination Requirements

• Nominations must be sent electronically to [email protected] and received no later than the due date shown under ‘Application Deadline’.
• All submitted material must be in English with a minimum of a 12-pt. font, in 81/2” x 11” letter or A4 in pdf format.
• Specific submission and criteria page count maximums are outlined on each awards and application document. Submissions that exceed the documented page count maximum will not be evaluated.
• Any additional documentation in alternate media formats, such as multimedia exceeding 5 minutes, will not be evaluated.
• Nomination packages that are incomplete or are received after the submission deadline will not be reviewed.
• There are no application fees to apply for any of the SAGTA Awards.
• For additional information, please refer to each award’s Application document.

Nomination Package Content

All nominations must contain the following:

• Application Documentation
• SAGTA Award Nomination Form*

* These documents do not count toward the page count maximum.

Additional Nomination Package Content Details

• Nominations and all supporting material (if requested) must be in English.
• Supporting Documents (if applicable): Supporting documents (photographs, newspaper articles, organizational charts, etc.) count toward the page count maximum.
• Letters of support: Included in the page count maximum unless noted otherwise in the individual Awards Guidelines.
• Web Pages, Video, CDs: the criteria should be answered in the nomination; review of any web pages, video and/or CDs would be at the option of the evaluator unless specifically requested by the nominee about the criteria.
• SAGTA may use submitted copyrighted materials for any business-related purpose, including press releases, and other marketing and promotional materials, including but not limited to videos as well as case studies.
• SAGTA will not reimburse any expenses for assembling the nomination package or for any presentation materials that may need to be created.
• For additional information, please refer to the individual awards Guidelines document.

Verification, Evaluation and Selection

• The SAGTA Awards Administrator will contact the lead nominator to confirm receipt and eligibility of the nomination package.
• The SAGTA Awards Administrator, and/or designee will verify the nominations eligibility.
• The SAGTA Awards Administrator will send the nomination package to the Awards Committee of evaluators, who are subject matter experts, for evaluation.
• The nominations, evaluation process and scores are proprietary to GISSA and will not be disclosed to nominators or nominees.
• The Lead Nominator and Nominee will be notified of the status of the nomination at the conclusion of the evaluation process.
• Selection and communication of nomination status shall take place no later than the second quarter of the year.

Presentation of the Award

• All awards are presented at the either the annual Cocktail Party; the biennial Field Conference or the biennial Academic Conference.
• SAGTA reserves the right within its sole discretion, and at any time up to the time of the presentation of the award, to determine that a nominee is or has become ineligible for the award. In any such case, SAGTA will notify the nominee and/or lead nominator of its decision as soon as possible prior to the award presentation.
• The award recipient will be publicised through SAGTA communication channels and external media after the presentation of the award. A recipient may also coordinate additional publicity with SAGTA after the presentation event.
• An award maybe be made to a non-SAGTA member in recognition of meritorious service to the wider Geography Community in Southern Africa. This award remains at the discretion of the Awards committee, in consultation with the SAGTA Chair.

Program Inquiries

Thank you for your interest and support of the SAGTA Awards Program.

• Please direct all inquiries, comments and submissions to [email protected]
• Web site address: www.sagta.org.za/Awards

SAGTA Awards Committee

Zama Shabalala (SAGTA Chair), Pamela Esterhuysen (Committee Chair), and Heather Auchterlonie.

SAGTA ‘Contribution to Geography Award’ (Doc 02)

The SAGTA ‘Contribution to Geography Award’ recognises the significant contribution* of the nominee to advancing geography as follows:

• Contribution to the development of geography in southern Africa
• Teaching and mentoring that impacts on the teaching profession
• Contribution to promoting the importance and value of geography to the public

*The definition of contribution includes service to SAGTA, outstanding teaching and mentoring that impacts on the profession and outreach that communicates the importance and value of geography to the public.

Number of Awards

• There is no limit to the number of awards in this category.
• SAGTA reserves the right not to select any recipients for a particular year if the evaluations performed indicate that nominations do not meet the stated criteria.

Eligible

• Must be a SAGTA member in good standing.
• Must be registered with SACE.

Not Eligible

• An application which has either be awarded or has been previously nominated for the SAGTA ‘Contribution to Geography Award’.

Nomination Procedures

Nominations must be sent electronically to ​[email protected]​ and must be received by the application deadline.

• One ​proposer ​shall be designated with whom SAGTA will communicate regarding the nomination.
• This award requires a seconder to also sign the award nomination form.
• The proposer does not require SAGTA affiliation.
• The proposer shall submit the SAGTA Contribution to Geography application document addressing each of the criteria in two pages or fewer and listing the relevant criteria title and description at the top of each page.
• The proposer shall ensure that all documentation is accurately completed and submitted. Incomplete nomination packages will not be evaluated.
• Please review SAGTA Awards – ​Doc 01​​General Submission Guidelines​ on the website.

Nomination Package Content

The nomination package shall contain:

• The SAGTA Contribution to Geography Award document addressing each of the criteria that must be met (no more than 2 pages per criteria).
• SAGTA Award Nomination Form.

SAGTA Tony Hambly Fellowship Award (Doc 03)

The SAGTA Tony Hambly Fellowship Award is the highest and most prestigious individual award presented by the Association. This award is presented to an individual who has contributed* immensely to the development of geography in ​many different areas​.

*The definition of contribution includes service to SAGTA, outstanding teaching and mentoring that impacts on the profession and outreach that communicates the importance and value of geography to the public. The PMI Fellow of the Institute Award is the highest and most prestigious individual award presented by the Project Management Institute for service to the organization and profession.

Number of Awards

• The number of SAGTA Life-Time Achievement Awards granted annually ​is not limited.
• SAGTA reserves the right not to select a recipient for this award for a particular year if the evaluations performed indicate that nominations do not meet the stated criteria.

Eligible

The nominee must

• Be a current SAGTA member in good standing.
• Have contributed to the transformation of the Teaching Profession
• Contributed to mentoring, supporting and empowering Geography teachers.
• Have made meaningful contribution to the advancement of Geography Education in the secondary and / or tertiary ​sphere.

Not Eligible

• Self-nomination is not permitted.

Nomination Procedures

Nominations must be sent electronically to ​[email protected]​ and must be received by the application deadline.

• The proposer / lead nominator shall be a SAGTA member in good standing.
• A SAGTA member may serve as a lead nominator for up to two nominations per year.
• Letters of nomination shall be submitted by the lead nominator plus a minimum of two additional nominators (seconders).
• The lead nominator and at least one of the additional nominators (seconder)shall be SAGTA members in good standing.
• The remaining nominator (seconder) do not require a SAGTA membership.Each letter of nomination shall be signed by the author and shall be no more than two pages.

Each letter​ must include:

• Length of association with the nominee.
• Type of personal or professional relationship with nominee (principal, moderator, Head of Department, and so on).
• Statements of his/her knowledge of the specific contributions made by the nominee, consistent with the SAGTA Tony Hambly Fellowship Award criteria in the Award Application, that also identifies the impact of these contributions on SAGTA and the profession.
• Statement of recommendation for the award
• The nominator’s contact information (name, address, telephone, email, etc).

Nominators shall be from different organisations / institutions than that of the nominee and from each other. Nominators should be chosen to provide various perspectives of the nominee’s contributions. The proposer / lead nominator shall ensure that all documentation is accurately completed and submitted. Incomplete nomination packages will not be evaluated.

• Please review ​General Submission Guidelines​ (Doc 01) on the website.

Nomination Package Content

The nomination package shall contain the following:

• SAGTA Tony Hambly Fellowship Award Application document.
• Letters of nomination of no more than two pages each from the proposer/lead nominator and from one other nominator (seconder), which include:
  • A curriculum vitae of the nominee may be included to expand the requested data and identify other professional accomplishments, but be a 1 page summary document.
  • SAGTA Award Nomination Form signed by both lead nominator and second nominator (seconder).

In the event of an unsuccessful nomination:

• A new nomination package must be submitted for the nominee to be considered in subsequent years.
• The number of times a member may be nominated is twice.