Awards

The 2008 Awards Party was held on Sunday, February 10th. Congratulations to this year's award winners and nominees.

Read local press reports in the Washington Running Report and the Washington Times about MCRRC's recognition of Outstanding High School Runners at the 2008 Awards Ceremony.

MCRRC accepts nominations for awards in the following categories:

MCRRC Most Improved Runner (Male & Female)
MCRRC Coach of the Year
MCRRC Outstanding High School Runner (Male & Female)
Race Director of the Year
Journalism
Volunteer Service
Volunteer of the Year
Lifetime Achievement / President's Award
Runner of the Year

Previous Year Awards

2006 Awards

Award Descriptions

MCRRC Most Improved Runner (Male & Female)

Justification:

To recognize one male and one female MCRRC club member for the effort involved in making a substantial improvement in running performance from one year to the next.

Minimal Qualifications for Consideration:

A member of MCRRC and has not previously won this award.

Nomination Process:

Any club member can nominate another club member for this award. Self-nominations are welcome.
To encourage nominations, the MCRRC Awards Committee will publicize the award via the club website, publications, consultation with training program coaches, and word of mouth.
A nomination will consist of a list of the club member’s race performances (name of race, distance, finishing time, and whether the race was an age group or lifetime PR) during the year for which the award is being given AND during the previous year. The club member’s age, sex, and number of years as a runner will be provided.
Nomination form / award criteria will include:
- % time improvements from the previous year in races run both years.
- % time improvement from the previous year in races of the same distance.
- Number of age group and/or lifetime PRs achieved during the year (if any).
- Range of competitive distances at which age group and/or lifetime PRs were achieved.
MCRRC Awards Committee members may not vote for applicants who are related through family, coaching, or teaching relationships.

Please use the on-line form to Nominate a Most Improved Runner candidate.

Additional Considerations:

Nominee is not required to run age group and/or lifetime PRs to win this award.
MCRRC volunteer contributions.

Selection:

Nominations will be submitted online and due by December 1^st each year. The MCRRC Awards Committee will vote at a meeting in January. In the event of a tie vote, the Awards Committee Chairman will determine the winner. One male and one female Most Improved award winner will be annually awarded a plaque or trophy at the MCRRC Awards Dinner in February.

MCRRC Coach of the Year

Justification:

To recognize one MCRRC club member for outstanding coaching performance.

Minimal Qualifications for Consideration:

A member of MCRRC and has not previously won this award.

Nomination Process:

Any club member can nominate another club member for this award. Coaching participants and self-nominations are welcome.
To encourage nominations, the MCRRC Awards Committee will publicize the award via the club website, publications, consultation with training program coaches and participants, and word of mouth, to encourage nominations.
Nomination form / award criteria will include:
- Type of coaching (club, school, other)
- Number of years coaching (club, school, other)
- Approximate number of runners coached (past year, lifetime)
- Coaching accomplishments
- Summary of benefits gained by runners coached
MCRRC Awards Committee members may not vote for applicants who are related through family, coaching, or teaching relationships.

Please use the on-line form to Nominate a Coach of the Year candidate.

Additional Considerations:

Nominations will be based on information submitted.
MCRRC volunteer contributions.

Selection:

Nominations will be submitted online and due by December 1^st each year. The MCRRC Awards Committee will vote at a meeting in January. In the event of a tie vote, the Awards Committee Chairman will determine the winner. One MCRRC Coach of the Year (male or female) will be annually awarded a plaque or trophy at the MCRRC Awards Dinner in February.

MCRRC Outstanding High School Runner (Male & Female)

Justification:

To recognize one male and one female MCRRC high school club member for running, academic, school activities, and community service contributions.

Minimal Qualifications for Consideration:

A member of MCRRC.
Applicants must be high school Seniors (12th grade).
Applicants must be planning to attend an institution of higher learning within the next 24 months.
Applicants are not required to run on a collegiate team.
Applicants are encouraged to volunteer for MCRRC events.

Nomination Process:

Nomination form must be completed by applicant.
The MCRRC Awards Committee will publicize the award via the club website, internal and external publications and media, Montgomery County High School Coaches and Guidance Counselors, and word of mouth to encourage applications.
Award Criteria will include:
- Running achievements
- Academic excellence (GPA – weighted and unweighted) Official school transcripts through Junior year and copy of Senior year 1Q report card.
- Community service accomplishments.
- School activities and career goals.
- Personal essay (How running has impacted the applicant’s life).
- Two letters of recommendation:
  - Teacher, coach, guidance counselor, or school administrator.
  - Applicant’s choice (not a relative).
- MCRRC Awards Committee members may not vote for applicants who are related through family, coaching, or teaching relationships.

Please use the on-line form to Nominate Yourself for Outstanding High School Runner.

Final Selection:

Nomination forms will be posted on the MCRRC website. Completed forms will be mailed to: MCRRC Scholarship, PO Box 1703, Rockville, MD 20849. Postmark deadline is December 1^st and completed nomination forms must be received by December 8^th each year. The MCRRC Awards Committee will vote at a meeting in January. In the event of a tie vote, the Awards Committee chairperson will determine the winner. The committee will elect a vice-chair who can perform the duties of the chairperson if the chairperson is in conflict of interest. One male and one female MCRRC Outstanding High School Runner will be annually awarded a plaque or trophy and $1,000 scholarship at the MCRRC Awards Dinner in February.

Race Director of the Year Award

Purpose

This award is to recognize the club race director who has most exemplified the high quality and standards of MCRRC low-key races.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

To be selected as Race Director of the Year, a person must have directed a low-key club race during the year. The Race Director of the Year should have performed all basic tasks including course marking, safety, directing volunteers, announcements, refreshments, results, post-race evaluation, and, in addition, shown creativity by adding special touches to the race beyond the basics.

Journalism Award

Purpose

This award is to recognize significant journalistic achievement. This may include contributions to club publications or contributions to other publications focusing on MCRRC and its programs.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

Writing, photography, editing, artistic, or other journalistic contributions by an MCRRC member will be considered. The contribution should inform or amuse the reader. It should help promote MCRRC programs, recognize the achievements of MCRRC members, or otherwise encourage readers to begin, continue, or improve their running and fitness activities.

Volunteer Service Award

Purpose

This award is to recognize specific volunteer contributions to MCRRC.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

Any volunteer contribution to the club will be considered, i.e. ongoing committee job, coordination of special events, club race work, or working at any club activity. The award may be given for significant or sustained volunteer contributions, taking into account the time spent and the results achieved by the volunteer.

Volunteer of the Year Award

Purpose

This award is to recognize the person making the most significant overall volunteer contributions to the club during the year.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

The basic criteria are the same as for the Volunteer Service Award. The award is given to the person who contributes the highest quality and greatest variety of personal effort in support of MCRRC, making the most significant contribution to club programs during the year.

President's Award

Purpose, Eligibility & Selection Criteria

This award is intended to give special recognition to a member who has made outstanding and longterm contributions to MCRRC and its programs. The president may also use this award to recognize extraordinary achievements or other special accomplishments that might not be properly covered by other awards.

Runner of the Year Award

The MCRRC Board of Directors has approved revised criteria for the Runner of the Year (ROY) candidates that take effect with the 2006 selection process. To be eligible for the ROY, potential candidates must have been club members the entire year, not have been previous ROY award recipients, and be of the relevant age/sex category the entire year. For example, a masters candidate must be 40 years old and over, a grandmaster must have been 60 prior to January 1, and open candidates can be of any age.

As an MCRRC member, you may nominate another member for ROY. The ROY Committee will consider nominations at their meeting, typically held the first week of December. The awards are presented at the Club’s Annual Awards Banquet.

In selecting the ROY winners from among the finalists whose accomplishments for the year are judged to be approximately equivalent, the ROY Committee (which is made up of previous winners) will take into consideration the extent of club participation either as a runner, volunteer in a race, or other contributions to club activities or committees.