25 August 2017 MEMORANDUM FOR: Class Leaders, USMA Classes Presidents, West Point Societies SUBJECT: West Point Association of Graduates 2018 Awards – Call for Nominations 1. Nominations for the 2018 Distinguished Graduate Award and the 2018 Thayer Award are due at the Alumni Center by 3 November 2017. Criteria for the Distinguished Graduate Award and for the Thayer Award, along with lists of past recipients, are enclosed. a. With respect to the Distinguished Graduate Award, the following guidelines apply: • Only Societies or Classes, not individuals, may nominate candidates for WPAOG’s Distinguished Graduate Award. The recognized leader of the nominating USMA Class or West Point Society must sign the nomination. • During any given year, Societies and Classes may have a maximum of two nominees under consideration for the Distinguished Graduate Award. Nominations remain active for three years. (Nominators will be asked to advise WPAOG whether they wish second- and third-year nominees to remain active.) b. With respect to the Thayer Award, the following guidelines apply: • USMA Classes, West Point Societies, and individual WPAOG members may submit nominations for the Thayer Award. Thayer Award nominees must be U.S. citizens who are not graduates of USMA. • The number of new annual Thayer Award nominations that a Class, Society, or an individual WPAOG member may submit is unlimited. 2. In past years, the materials placed before award committees were often voluminous and disparate. Often, it had become difficult for the selection committee members to read the material and make valid comparisons among nominees. Therefore, a nomination for either award must comply with the following format, or the nominator will be asked to revise and resubmit the packet. a. A nomination shall take the form of a letter to the chair of the Thayer Award Committee or Distinguished Graduate Award Committee. After identifying the nominee and the award for which he or she is nominated, the letter shall summarize the ways in which the nominee’s record of service and/or achievements “draw wholesome comparison to the qualities for which West Point strives, in keeping with its motto – Duty, Honor, Country.” The nominating letter may be no longer than three pages of single-spaced typescript. b. Endorsements of the nomination that accompany it or arrive separately may not exceed a single page in length. 3. The deadline for nominations to arrive at the Herbert Alumni Center is 3 November 2017. Please submit your nomination packet by email or postal mail as follows: By email: [email protected] Please indicate in the subject line: Distinguished Graduate Award Committee or Thayer Award Committee By postal mail: Chairman Distinguished Graduate Award Committee or Thayer Award Committee c/o Laurie Fontana West Point Association of Graduates 698 Mills Road West Point, New York 10996 Todd A. Browne ’85 President and CEO Enclosures: Excerpt from the Distinguished Graduate Award Policy Excerpt from the Thayer Award Policy 2 Distinguished Graduate Award Policy 1. Criteria for the Distinguished Graduate Award: a. The Award is to be given to graduates of the United States Military Academy whose character, distinguished service and stature draw wholesome comparison to the qualities that West Point strives for, in keeping with its motto - "Duty, Honor, Country." With the purpose of identifying to the public and the Corps of Cadets the broad national significance of West Point as one of America's cherished institutions, candidates for the Distinguished Graduate Award will be graduates of the United States Military Academy who have demonstrated a strong interest in supporting West Point throughout their lifetime. b. The Award will not be given to individuals who occupy, or are candidates for elective office, or who are still on active duty. The individuals selected for the Distinguished Graduate Award must be alive and agree to accept the Award at West Point whenever possible. If an awardee should die between the time of selection and presentation, a designee appointed by the next of kin may accept on behalf of the deceased. 2. Ulmer Task Force recommendations for how the selection committee should evaluate the nominees. • Since the mission of the USMA is to produce graduates who are “…prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the United States Army,” it is appropriate that a primary career as an Army officer be given due consideration. However, attainment of senior military rank alone does not qualify graduates for the Award unless they have met other criteria including “demonstrated a strong interest in supporting West Point throughout their lifetime.” Further, it is possible to meet the criteria as a DG for “character, distinguished service, and stature” without completing a full military career. • While “supporting West Point” may be interpreted as including the provision of some level of financial contributions over the years, no level of financial contribution alone is sufficient to justify the DG Award. • The requirement of “identifying to the public and the Corps of Cadets the broad national significance of West Point” indicates the need for service that has some degree of national impact or awareness. This of course might be gained by activities that are significant in a field—military or commercial or academic, etc.—to the extent that they have more than a transitory contribution to the nation. (Realistically it is unlikely that the DG Award can surpass the Thayer Award in reaching segments of the American public, and the Thayer Award seems not routinely capable of gaining broad public or even cadet attention.) 3. Procedural Guidelines: a. Nominations for the award may be made by Classes and Societies only. A Class/Society may have a maximum of two nominees under consideration during any given year; if there are two, they do not have to be rank ordered. If a class is submitting the nomination, then the recognized leader of the class according to its constitution must sign the letter; if a society is submitting the nomination, the society president must sign the letter. Nominees need not necessarily be a member of the Society or Class forwarding the nomination. The nomination must be accompanied by a narrative of no more than 3 pages detailing the nominee's contributions and distinguished service, justifying selection as the recipient of the Distinguished Graduate Award. Endorsement letters, of no more than 1 page, will be accepted. There is no limit on the number of endorsement letters. 3 Policies Governing the Selection of the Thayer Award Recipient 1. Each year, the West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) shall present the Thayer Award to an individual American citizen who is not a graduate of the United States Military Academy. The Board does not intend for the Award to be presented to a group of Americans or to a conceptual individual such as The American First Responder. (Note that the presentation of the 2002 Award to The American Soldier was exceptional. That one-time exception was linked to the Bicentennial Celebration of the founding of the United States Military Academy.) 2. Classes, Societies, and individual members may submit nominations for the Thayer Award. The number of new annual nominations from Classes, Societies, and individual members of the West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) shall be unlimited. 3. The criteria for the Thayer Award are as follows: a. The Thayer Award, established in honor of Colonel Sylvanus Thayer, shall be presented annually by the Association. The Award is intended for presentation to an individual, a United States citizen who is not a graduate of the United States Military Academy. The recipient’s character, accomplishments, and national stature must reflect a life of great service to our Nation and exemplify the West Point motto Duty, Honor, Country. LTG Garrison H. Davidson ’27, Superintendent of the Academy when the Award was initiated in 1958, stated that the Award’s purpose was to recognize an American citizen of outstanding character and accomplishments whose stature in the civilian community would draw wholesome comparison to the quality for which West Point strives. He believed that selecting a citizen of national stature would enhance the reputation of West Point and encourage young people to aspire to become cadets. b. Normally, the Award presentation at West Point is during the fall. The USMA Superintendent and the Corps of Cadets play essential roles in the ceremonies. The Award recipient participates in a brigade review, and he/she receives the Award during dinner in Washington Hall. The Award recipient must be willing and able to make a speech to the Corps of Cadets. c. Guidance to the Thayer Award Selection Committee: • National public service has been prominent in the careers of Award recipients. Extraordinary service to the Nation clearly remains a major factor in selecting Award recipients. National service may take many forms (e.g., service in the arts, sciences, and numerous professions in the public or private sector). • Traditionally, the Award has acknowledged the recipient’s lifetime of service. Because the recipient will be forever associated with West Point and its ideals, selecting a recipient whose professional life story of service is nearly complete is advisable. • The recipient should have respected, national stature (i.e., national name recognition and wide-based respect among the general population). Ideally, he/she will be recognized by cadets as a “great American.” 4 • The recipient must be able to receive the Award at West Point and deliver an acceptance speech to the Corps of Cadets. 4. Format and composition of nomination packets will be restricted: • Nomination letters shall not exceed three pages. The nomination should explain how the nominee meets the criteria and guidance outlined in this policy. • One-page letters supporting the nomination may be enclosed.