The 2009 Covenant Awards

The Covenant Foundation announces the eighteenth annual Covenant Awards for exceptional Jewish educators and invites new nominations of extraordinary educators to be considered for the 2009 Covenant Awards. Designed to honor, thank, and celebrate outstanding educators, each award carries with it a prize of $36,000 for the educator and an additional $5,000 for the educator's home institution.

Eligibility
Educators at any stage of their careers with significant achievements in the field of Jewish education are eligible to be nominated for the Covenant Awards. All nominees must currently be working in the field of Jewish education in the United States or Canada. Educators working in any setting are eligible to receive a Covenant Award, including those working in day schools, camps, informal education, Hillel programs, family and adult programs, and other kinds of educational endeavors. Educators teaching primarily in a college, seminary, or university setting for credit are not eligible.

Previous Nominees
Educators whose dossiers were first considered for the 2007 or 2008 Awards will automatically be reconsidered for the 2009 Awards. All new materials are required for the renomination of nominees considered for the 2006 Awards or earlier (nominated in or before December 2005). This means a new Statement of Nomination, Biographical Information, Statements of Motivation and Purpose, and new Letters of Support. The Foundation has disposed of all dossiers considered for the 2006 Awards or earlier. Candidates may contact the Foundation if they have any questions about their eligibility.

Selection Criteria
To be considered for a Covenant Award, a completed nomination must demonstrate that the candidate:

• is an exceptional Jewish educator who has had a significant impact on others.
• has contributed creatively to advancing the transmission of Jewish knowledge, values, and identity.
• is a positive role model.

Nomination Guidelines
The responsibilities of the Award nominator, letters of support writer, and Award nominee are clearly delineated in the 2009 Nomination Guidelines. Note that the role of the nominator is crucial. This process requires the oversight of the nominator from beginning to end, and it is the nominator's responsibility to ensure that all parties of aware of all requirements and deadlines. The deadlines are firm; no exceptions will be made.