Nominations due for ninth annual Perkins Prize

Nominations are being sought for the James A. Perkins Prize for Interracial Understanding and Harmony, which recognizes the Cornell student, faculty, staff member or program making the most significant contribution to furthering the ideal of university community, while respecting the values of racial diversity.

Nomination and application forms, and more information, are available at the Office of the Dean of Students, 401 Willard Straight Hall (255-6839 or 255-1115) or at this Web site: http://www.dos.cornell.edu/dos/perkinsprize.html.

Nominations are due by Friday, Feb. 14, and completed applications must be received by Feb. 21. Extensions of the deadlines will be considered for those who call the Office of the Dean of Students at 255-1115.

The James A. Perkins Prize was established in 1995 by Trustee Thomas W. Jones '69 to honor Cornell's seventh president.

"President Perkins made the historic decision to increase very significantly the enrollment of African-American and other minority students at Cornell," said Jones in 1995. "... President Perkins made a courageous and wise decision and, as such, merits recognition and appreciation."

The $5,000 award will be presented at a special ceremony April 9 in the Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room. The prize will be awarded with the understanding that the money will be used to further projects which promote interracial understanding and harmony at Cornell.

Nominations for the Perkins Prize are being solicited and reviewed by the Perkins Prize Selection Committee.

Three criteria will be used to select the prize recipient:

• the number and diversity of students participating in a sustained level of involvement that leads to a set of accomplishments;

• the extent to which these accomplishments promote common values and shared community standards among diverse students; and

• the extent to which these accomplishments enhance the abilities of students to work with, live with and learn from individuals from a wide range of background, beliefs and cultural perspectives.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to apply for the award, and members of Cornell community are invited to nominate applicants as well as to encourage potential applicants to apply directly.