These are distinguished colleagues who have unselfishly dedicated themselves to working in the family field, and have given outstanding service. NCFR provides a vehicle for honoring these people through its Awards program.

Members nominate members for the awards, send supporting evidence, and list three other people who can verify the nominee's qualifications. A selection committee evaluates the applicants and selects the winner(s). Deadline for nomination of all awards is April 15 of the year in which the Award will be presented (see special deadlines for the Jessie Bernard Awards.)

Please note: Nominees for all Awards must be current NCFR Members (except the Distinguished Service to Families). NCFR does not offer scholarships for any who are not members of NCFR.

Award winners are given special recognition at the Annual Conference and in the NCFR Report.

Don't wait for someone else to nominate your colleagues for Awards. Print out the application form and mail it right away.

NCFR Awards Nomination and Application Form (PDF Document)
Student/New Professional Section Awards (PDF Document)


The following awards are given:

• Anselm Strauss Award for Qualitative Family Research (Presented annually) - This award, presented by the Qualitative Family Research Network, a focus group of the Research and Theory Section, recognizes outstanding qualitative family research.
• Association of Councils' Award for Meritorious Service (Presented yearly)
  This award recognizes the service of affiliate members within their local, state or regional council. Up to five Meritorious Service Awards will be given each year to deserving candidates who have been chosen from nominees who fulfill the required criteria. Applications are nominated by active affiliated councils.
  
• Association of Councils Outstanding Student Research Paper (Graduate & Undergraduate) (Presented yearly)
  The graduate student paper winner will receive $500 and be expected to present the paper at the NCFR conference and must be a NCFR member. The undergraduate student paper winner will receive $100. Applications are nominated by active affiliates.
• Cindy Winter Scholarship Award (Presented in odd years) - This award is to honor a student or new professional who has demonstrated outstanding leadership or service in family studies, human ecology, human development, family science, or a related field.
  
• Distinguished Service to Families Award (Presented in odd years) - The award, under the auspices of the Association of Councils, is given in recognition of exceptional leadership and/or service to improve family living.
  
• Ernest W. Burgess Award (Presented in even years) - This award, sponsored by the Research and Theory Section, recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement during the course of a career in the study of families.
  
• Ernest Osborne Award (Presented in odd years) - The award, sponsored by the Education and Enrichment Section, recognizes excellence in teaching of family studies.
• Jan Trost Award (Presented in even years) - This award, sponsored by the International Section, recognizes Outstanding Contributions in Comparative Family Studies.
  
• Jessie Bernard Award - Outstanding Research Proposal from a Feminist Perspective (Presented yearly) - This award, sponsored by the Feminism and Family Studies Section, recognizes a graduate student/new professional who has demonstrated excellence in research and potential contribution to feminist scholarship.
  
• Jessie Bernard Award - Outstanding Contribution to Feminist Scholarship Paper (Presented yearly) - This award, sponsored by the Feminism and Family Studies Section, recognizes a graduate student/new professional who has published or is about to publish a paper using feminist frameworks and methodologies in research.
• John L. McAdoo Dissertation Award (Presented in even years) - This award is a tribute honoring the scholarship and leadership of John Lewis McAdoo, Professor of Family and Child Ecology at Michigan State University and a founding member of the NCFR Ethnic Minorities Section.
• Margaret E. Arcus Outstanding Family Life Educator Award (Presented in even years) - This award, sponsored by the Education and Enrichment Section was established for the following reasons: 1) to honor the remarkable contribution made to family life education by Margaret Arcus, 2) to encourage that tradition of excellence and scholarship in family life education, 3) to increase the visibility and credibility of family life education scholarship and practice.
• Marie F. Peters Award (Presented in odd years) - This award, presented by the Ethnic Minorities Section, recognizes distinguished scholars, researchers, and practitioners who have made a significant contribution in the area of Ethnic Minority families.
• Mary Jo Czaplewski Fellowship (Presented yearly) - This Fellowship is given to fund additional training in Administration for a NCFR member who is making a mid-career change to Administration.
  
• NCFR Honor Student Recognition (Presented ongoing) - This award acknowledges the outstanding accomplishments and academic success of family science students. By recognizing exceptional scholarship, leadership and service in graduating undergraduate and graduate students, NCFR wishes to honor worthy recipients for their excellence and encourage and empower them to continue to excel in and make contributions to the field of family science. NCFR Honor Student Recognition Application Form.
• NCFR Student Award (Presented yearly) - This award is given to a NCFR graduate student member who has demonstrated excellence as a student with high potential for contribution to the field of family studies.
• Reuben Hill Award (Presented yearly) - This award, sponsored by the Research and Theory Section, is presented to the authors(s) of the best research article for the year prior to the award.
• Ruth Hathaway Jewson Award (Presented in even years) - This award is given to fund the best Family Studies dissertation proposal submitted by a doctoral candidate.