2024 Benjamin Cooper Awards - Nominations Open Through 4/17 - DEADLINE EXTENDED

[PACE Announcements]

PACE is pleased to announce that nominations for the Benjamin Cooper Awards are now open! Members of the quizbowl community are encouraged to nominate individuals, groups, or organizations that contribute to the “spirit and honor of quizbowl competition." The deadline to nominate is April 8, 2024. Winners will be announced in early May and the awards will be formally presented at the 2024 NSC in Reston, VA, in June.

PACE presents two editions of the Cooper Award annually. The Benjamin Cooper Academic Ambassador Award will be given to a coach, advisor, administrator, tournament organizer, or other person who has made significant contributions to high school quizbowl. The Benjamin Cooper Young Ambassador Award will be given to someone affiliated with a college or high school program who, despite their young age, has already made valuable contributions to the high school academic competition community.

How to Nominate

Please submit any questions and all nomination statements to [email protected]. To make sure they're easily found, please put "Cooper Nomination" in the subject line and clearly indicate if you are nominating an individual for the Young Ambassador Award. Nomination statements should be no more than 1,000 words and explain the nominee’s contributions to quizbowl and how, in your opinion, they have contributed to the “spirit and honor of quizbowl competition.”

PACE welcomes re-nomination of those nominated in previous years who have continued to contribute to the quizbowl community. Organizations are eligible for nomination, as are small groups of individuals who have collaborated on their quizbowl work. The Cooper Awards are primarily intended to honor contributions to the high school quizbowl community.

About the Benjamin Cooper Awards

The Benjamin Cooper Academic Ambassador Award and the Young Ambassador Award recognize those who have made substantial contributions to the “spirit and honor of quizbowl competition.” Benjamin Cooper, for whom the award is named, was a model student at the Georgetown Day School in Washington, DC, who was well-liked among his classmates and the faculty. He participated in many activities in school and in service to the community. Because of his enthusiasm in promoting academic competition among his team members, he was selected as the captain of the varsity team for the 1997-1998 school year. On August 12, 1997, Ben was tragically killed in an automobile accident while returning from his summer job.

The first Cooper Award was presented by PACE to Georgetown Day School team advisor Sue Ikenberry in honor of Ben at the 1998 NSC. The Young Ambassador Award was first presented at the 2004 NSC.

Last year's winners were Jay Winter of Iowa Quiz Bowl League and Waukee Northwest High School (Academic Ambassador) and Joy An of Choate Rosemary Hall (Young Ambassador). A full list of previous winners can be found on PACE's website.

[A Lust-Fanned Dairy Tale]

Hi all, a reminder that nominations are due this coming Monday, April 8!

[A Lust-Fanned Dairy Tale]

Hi all, we have extended the nomination deadline to next Wednesday, April 17! Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.