OSA AWARDS (2008)

 

  1. Distinguished Oriya Award
  2. Kalashree Award
  3. Utkala Mani Gopabandhu Das Memorial Award
  4. Subrina Biswal Memorial Award
  5. Youth Volunteer Award
  6. Yuva Kala Vikash Award
  7. Meghna Memorial Award

 

Section 1: General Guidelines

 

·         If no suitable candidate is found in a particular year for a particular category, no award may be given.

·         In the event of a tie, or if the awards committee felt that more than one person deserve the award, the number of awards may be increased to two in any given year.

·         The nominator of an award must be a member of OSA at the time of nomination. The nomination process is different for different awards.

·         Self-nominations will not be accepted.

·         The contact information of the referees (telephone no., email address etc.) for various award categories must be provided in the nomination form to enable the judging committee to contact them.  Only referees who are prepared to provide verbal or written recommendations should be included.

·         With the exception of Subrina Biswal award, no member of the national executive and award committee including family members may be nominated for any award to maintain transparency of the award process.

·         One person may not be nominated for more than one award category

·         Preferably email your nominations early to our coordinator Dr. Birendra Jena at abjena@yahoo.com. Nominations for awards requiring documentary proofs such as Subrina Biswal Memorial Award must be mailed by US/Canada post to Mr. Jena’s address: 175 Apple Grove St. NE #A-12, North Canton, OH 44720, USA.

 

Process of Selection:

 

  • A three-member selection committee appointed by the OSA President on behalf of the Executive Council for each award will select the recipient for the award
  • The decision of the awards committee is final.
  • A biographical sketch outlining the life and legacy of the recipient of the award will be featured in next issue of the OSA Journal

.

 

Time Line:

 

·         Last date for nomination: April 30 (post-marked/ electronic).

·         Judging will take place: between May 1 and June 10.

·         Announcement of result: June 15

·         Award presentation will be made during the OSA Convention

 

Section 2: Award Details

 

1. Distinguished Oriya Award:
The Distinguished Oriya award is the highest award presented by the Orissa Society of the Americas, a non-profit organization operating in North America to preserve and promote the culture, heritage, and customs of Oriya speaking people.

 

Recipients will receive an inscribed plaque and a certificate of honor at a special function or in the annual Convention hosted by the OSA.

 

Criteria for Recognition:

Selection is based on contribution in one or more of the following areas:

The nominee must have

  • Proficiency in professional disciplines with outstanding accomplishments in arts, theatre, literature, science, technology, medicine and /or similar fields.
  • Rendered public service with innovative application of resources to enhance literacy, health, education, hygiene, child care, community service and similar other humanitarian and philanthropic service with direct contribution to Orissa, the land and its people.
  • Proficiency in and outstanding contribution to Oriya Art, Culture, Heritage and Literature
  • Leadership to bring forth social justice in Orissa.
  • Entrepreneurial skills to cultivate resources in order to provide economic stimuli and opportunities for employment and economic growth in Orissa
  • Patriotic idealism to uphold the honor and dignity of Oriya people.
  • Acts of heroism directly contributing to the cause of Orissa and its people.

 

Eligibility Requirements:

The nominee must be a member of the OSA with good standing or have, in case of nominees from overseas, must have contributed to the OSA in a tangible and visible manner.

The nominator must be a member of the OSA with good standing.

 

Nomination Process:

Names of three referees, preferably OSA members and having good knowledge of the nominee and his / her field of expertise or achievement, who would agree to provide written or verbal reference on the merits of the nominee must be included in the application. Self-nominations will not be accepted.

 

2.  Kalashree Award

The Kalashree Award is an honor in recognition of an individual’s continued service to Oriya art, literature, music, dance, and similar cultural and heritage-based activities in North America.

 

The Award will be presented in form a plaque in a special OSA meeting or in the Annual convention.

 

Criteria for Selection:

Selection will be based on contributions in one or more of the following areas:

The nominee:

·         As a promoter of Oriya art and culture, must have outstanding record of cultural activities such as promotion of Oriya language and literature, hosting of events featuring Oriya cultural programs including visiting artists.

·         As a performing artist, must have demonstrated high quality artistic productions, training, and choreography in areas such as Odissi Dance, Odissi Music, Folk dance and music of Orissa, and similar other traditional art of Orissa including production of Oriya films, Oriya dramas, (and, if in any other language, must feature Oriya culture and heritage), hosting of conventions promoting Oriya artists and artistic endeavors.

·         As an established author, must have demonstrated high quality authorship in areas such as novels, stories, poetry and such other literary activities in Oriya

Only activities and/ or accomplishments performed in North America will constitute grounds for consideration

 

Eligibility Requirements:

·         The nominee must be an OSA Member at the time of nomination.

·         The person should have several years of active participation in cultural activities of the OSA.

·         The person must be, during the year of the Award, living in North America.

 

Nomination Process:

An individual member of the OSA with good standing may nominate a candidate

in the approved nomination form.

It will be required to name three referees who must be members of the OSA and have good knowledge of the cultural activities of OSA.

One of the referees must be from the Chapter to which the nominee belongs, so that he/she can report on the role of the individual in the Chapter’s cultural and literary activities.

Self-nomination will not be accepted.

 

3.  UTKALAMANI GOPABANDHU DAS MEMORIAL AWARD

The Award is presented to an individual in recognition of his/ her outstanding contribution to Orissa in areas of humanitarian and community service. The recipient demonstrates a role model to the Non-resident Oriya community for his / her philanthropic accomplishments, dedication and selfless service to humanity.

 

The Award in form a plaque with appropriate citation and picture of Utkalamani Gopabandhu Das will be presented to the recipient in a special function of the OSA

or during the Annual Convention.

 

Criteria for Selection:

The nominee must have made outstanding contribution to the land and people of Orissa in areas such as, but not limited to,

·         Social work

·         Addressing and resolving women’s issues and rehabilitation

·         Improving economic well-being of disadvantaged persons

·         Relief operation

·         Community service, community health,

·         Relief of poverty

·         Advancement of education at various levels and in various sectors

·         Advancement in services in the Health Sector

And, similar other philanthropic endeavors in Orissa.

 

Eligibility Requirements:

Must be a member of the OSA with good standing.

 

Nomination Process:

Nominator must be member of the OSA with good standing and must fill out the nomination form with names of three referees who should comment on the nominee’s accomplishments. The referees must be members of the OSA or have good knowledge of the kinds of service done in Orissa by NROs.

Self-nomination will not be accepted.

 

(4) Subrina Biswal MEMORIAL Award for High School Graduates

Every year, the Orissa Society of the Americas, in joint sponsorship with
Dr. Nilambar and Annapurna Biswal and Dr. Sitakantha Dash, presents the Subrina Biswal Memorial award to honor an outstanding high school graduate from OSA member families. Recipients are selected based on their academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, interest in the arts, and personal qualities.  This award, initiated in 1990 by Dr. Nilambar and Annapurna Biswal of Maryland in the loving memory of their daughter, Subrina, provides the recipient with one-time scholarship of US $1000.00.

Eligibility Requirements:

·         The applicant must be the son/ daughter of an OSA Member with good standing.

·         The applicant must be a graduating high school senior from any School in the USA or Canada.

 

Criteria for Selection:

Assessment will be made on all of the following criteria:

·         Academic achievements.

·         Extra-curricular activities

·         Interest in arts

·         Personal qualities demonstrated by career goal and objectives in life

 

Submission Requirements:

·         High School transcripts

·         Two letters of recommendation including one from a teacher of the school attended.

·         A bio-data identifying all of the four points under criteria

·         A short essay by the applicant highlighting career goal and objectives in life.

 

 

5. YOUTH VOLUNTEER AWARD

Award to recognize a youth (16-40 years of age) for community service in North America, Orissa, for service to OSA or Chapter, organizational leadership, volunteer work, capacity building etc. Presentation of these awards will generate interest in other youth to participate in community events.

 

A plaque and a certificate to be presented in a special OSA function or in the Annual OSA convention

 

Eligibility Requirements:

 

  • Must be between16 to 40 years of age,
  • Must be an OSA member or belong to an OSA member family.
  •  Must be resident in North America

 

Nomination Process:

Nominator must be a member of OSA. Approved nomination form filled out with names of three referees one of whom may belong to the Chapter to which the youth belongs.

 

6.  YUVA KALA VIKASHA AWARD:

Award to recognize a youth for outstanding contribution in promotion of Oriya culture, literature, arts, music, dance etc in North America. Presentation of these awards will generate interest in other youth to participate in Oriya culture and OSA events.

 

A plaque and certificate to be presented in a special OSA function or in the Annual OSA convention

 

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a High School student/ graduating High School student
  • Must belong to an OSA member family
  • Must be resident in North America.

Nomination Process:

Nominator must be a member of OSA. Approved nomination form filled out with names of three referees one of whom, in so far as possible, may belong to the Chapter to which the youth belongs.



7.  Meghna Memorial Award for Creative Writing

After the sad demise of Meghna Mahapatra, daughter of Santosh and Lipika Mahapatra, in a tragic road accident on 5th November 2005, members of the Michigan Chapter of the Orissa Society of the Americas have set up the Meghna Memorial Fund, managed by the Meghna Memorial Trust.  This was made possible through generous contributions from many people, including Meghna’s parents.  To commemorate Meghna and pay tribute to her creative spirit, it was deemed appropriate to institute the “Meghna Memorial Award for Creative Writing”.  

There are two awards: 

      The Junior Award is for Children of ages between 7 and 12; &

      The Senior award is for children of ages between 13 and 18. 

      The winner in each group will be recognised at the OSA Convention, receive a certificate, a cheque for $150, and a copy of the Souvenir issue in which his/her article is published.

The following guidelines apply to both the awards.

Timelines for 2008

    The Meghna Memorial Award is being awarded for the first time by the OSA in 2008.  Due to several factors that have delayed the announcement, for 2008 only the deadline for receiving all writings is May 15, 2008, by email/courier/mail.

Criteria for Selection

    A panel of judges will look at all the writings by children in the Junior and Senior age groups will be judged for exceptional creativity and quality of writing.  The forms and styles are wide open.  Examples are poems, short stories, letters home from a trip, or just the child/youth’s view of the adult world.   

    Each contribution should not be more than four printed pages.  Both Oriya and English writings are welcome.   

Eligibility

    All children of Oriya origin residing in North America (USA and Canada) in the age group of 7 to 18 are eligible to participate.  The parents or children need not be members of OSA at the time of nomination. 

Nomination Process

      Writings can be sent in by children or their parents. .All articles submitted to the Souvenir will automatically be considered for the award. 

      Please submit articles by email to Lalu Mansinha, Souvenir’08 <mansinha@uwo.ca> 

      or by mail to (Remember that mail to Canada from US requires extra stamps)

      Editor, OSA2008 Souvenir,

      131 Ambleside Drv,

      London ON N6G 4P8,

      Canada