UK Libraries Accepting Nominations for 2022 Clements Award for History/Civics Teachers

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 11, 2022) — The National Archives and the University of Kentucky Libraries Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center are now taking self-nominations for the Earle C. Clements Innovation in Education Award for Civics and History Teachers (Clements Award). The submission deadline is Friday, May 20.

The Clements Award recognizes promising and innovative Kentucky high school educators and honors the life and career of the late Earle C. Clements and his lifelong commitment to education and public service. 

This year, the National Archives and UK Libraries will be honoring up to six history and/or civics (social studies) teachers from elementary, middle and high school throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

“Public school teachers play such a powerful role in shaping the future. The Clements Award winners change lives, instill confidence and inspire their students,” said UK Libraries Associate Dean and Director of the Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center Deirdre Scaggs. “To be able to both honor and recognize the power of excellent teachers is a privilege, and after the extraordinary challenges Kentucky educators have faced these last two years, I am excited to show our gratitude and honor six recipients again this year.”

Clements Award recipients will be selected by an independent review panel and will receive $1,000 each.

The award criteria include the following:

• teacher’s knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, the subject and commitment to increasing student awareness of the importance of public service;
• impact on student success; and
• evidence of creativity and innovation.

Interested applicants for the Clements Award must submit the following materials electronically or by mail postmarked no later than Friday, May 20:

• a completed application and
• a letter from applicant addressing criteria.

In addition, applicants have the option to also submit a sample assignment and/or other supporting materials, including student or principal letters of support. Former applicants not previously recognized are also encouraged to re-apply.

Application packets may be completed electronically at bit.ly/Clements-2022  or sent via mail to:

Clements Award Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center Margaret I. King Library University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0039

Winners of the Clements Awards will be notified in May and the award ceremony will be held on Aug 5, 2022, at the UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center.

For more information on the Clements Award or to send questions, email Deirdre Scaggs at deirdre@uky.edu (include Clements Award in the subject line).

The National Archives is an independent federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our government, so people can discover, use and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The agency supports democracy, promotes civic education and facilitates historical understanding of our national experience. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers and presidential libraries, and on the internet at www.archives.gov.

The Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) at UK Libraries sustains the Commonwealth’s memory and serves as the essential bridge between past, present and future. By preserving materials documenting the social, cultural, economic and political history of Kentucky, the SCRC provides rich opportunities for students to expand their worldview and enhance their critical thinking skills. SCRC materials are used by scholars worldwide to advance original research and pioneer creative approaches to scholarship. UK Libraries SCRC is the Archives, the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, the King Library Press, the Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center, the Bert T. Combs Appalachian Collection, the John G. Heyburn Initiative and ExploreUK.