Nomination letters outline a nominee's qualifications for an award.
Nomination essays are critical components in the process of judging a candidate's eligibility and worthiness for a scholarship, award or other recognition. The nomination essay serves as a personal testament of a nominee's accomplishments and abilities that specifically qualify her for the recognition in question. An effective nomination essay provides an authoritative review of the nominee's skills and accomplishments. Rather than repeating information contained in the nominee's resume, the nomination letter should provide a thorough explanation of the accomplishments that uniquely qualify the nominee for the recognition.
Instructions
1. Secure a copy of the judging guidelines for the recognition. Often, the judging criteria are listed on the website of the organization offering the reward. If you cannot find a copy of the specific judges' rules, review any online or printing materials regarding information about the prize and the organization offering the prize.
2. Request a copy of the nominee's resume or curriculum vitae, or C.V. The document serves as a guideline of the nominee's major accomplishments and interests, but your nomination essay should not simply rehash all of the information in the resume. Instead, refer to the resume for specific information like dates and names.
3. Interview the nominee if appropriate. For rewards like scholarships, interviews are useful means of collecting and clarifying information that does not appear on the resume. Other nominations prohibit notifying the nominee of their selection in which case an interview is inappropriate.
4. Identify the nominee and the specific award for which you are nominating him in the opening sentence of your essay. Incorporate general supporting evidence into the opening sentence. For example, a strong opening sentence is, "Professor Jane Smith's vast accomplishments in the fields of neuroscience and microbiology make her an outstanding candidate for the Exceptional Persons Award."
5. Describe your relationship to the nominee, if relevant. A longstanding personal or professional relationship with the nominee qualifies you to speak as an authority on her skills and accomplishments. Note how long you've known the nominee and in what capacity within the first paragraph of the essay.
6. Organize your supporting paragraphs into general themes regarding the nominee's relevant accomplishments or skills. For example, your first paragraph may detail the nominee's published research credits while your second paragraph describes her work in developing strategic plans for her educational department. Use specific examples rather than broad statements, and expand upon items in her resume where appropriate.
7. Conclude the essay with a summarizing paragraph that reasserts your endorsement of the nominee. Refer the judging committee to the nominee's resume to supplement the information provided in your essay. A strong conclusion reminds the judging committee of why your nominee is specifically qualified for the particular award.
8. Provide your contact information under your signature at the bottom of the essay and encourage the judging committee to contact you should they require additional information.
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