AWARD INFORMATION
UPHA Awards
Thank you for your interest in the UPHA Awards program. Through the awards program, UPHA
recognizes UPHA members not only for their success in the show ring but also for their dedication and
contributions to UPHA and our industry. Award recipients are celebrated annually during a special
ceremony held during the UPHA National Conference or a national competition.
General
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Awards will be given to individuals who are highly deserving of the award, based on the criteria.
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Award recipients are selected based on how well each nominee meets the published award criteria—not on the number of nominations received. Multiple nominations for the same individual do not increase their chances of receiving an award. Instead, each nomination is reviewed and evaluated on the quality of the information provided and how it demonstrates the nominee's qualifications under the established criteria.
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An award does not have to be given each year.
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The UPHA Executive Board will review complete nominations against the published criteria and narrow the nominees to two to four candidates per award. The full UPHA Board will vote electronically in a confidential ballot. In the event of a tie or a very close vote, the Executive Board will resolve the tie (with conflicted members recusing themselves) or may authorize dual award.
Eligibility/Criteria
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Specific criteria and eligibility are outlined in each award description.
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UPHA membership may or may not be required for a nominee dependent on the specific award
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Please ensure that the nominee meets the criteria by reviewing the individual award descriptions.
It is imperative that all UPHA award recipients have the highest moral and ethical standards. Any person who has been subject to UPHA Code of Ethics violations or involved in adverse action involving UPHA should be prohibited from receiving any recognition or award. An ineligibility list will be permanently maintained by the Executive Director and included at every meeting where award winners are selected.
How to Nominate
All award nominations will be submitted via the new online form. We will publish a new online nomination form on UPHAOnline.com later this year. Each form will include fields and standardized questions tailored to the award’s criteria. You no longer need to mail or email nominations.
Previously Submitted Nominations: If you submitted a nomination within the past three years, it must be resubmitted using the new online nomination form by the applicable deadline to remain active. This one-time transition will ensure all active nominations are evaluated using the same standardized format and criteria. Previous nominations will not automatically transfer into the new system.
Nomination Deadlines
All award nominations must be received by UPHA no later than the deadlines posted below. These
deadlines are based on when they will be reviewed for selection. There are no
exceptions or extensions.
The deadline to submit nominations is as follows:
June 1
Jesus Gonzales Caretaker Hall of Fame
July 1 (deadline extended to October 1 for 2026)
Tom Moore Hall of Fame
Helen K. Crabtree Instructor Hall of Fame
Larry Bacon Lifetime Achievement Award
Alvin C. Ruxer Lifetime Commitment Award
October 1
Sallie B. Wheeler Distinguished Service Award
Lillian Shively Equitation Distinguished Service Award
Shirley Parkinson Professional Achievement Award
Dr. Scott Bennett Professional Services Award
November 1
Richard E. Lavery Professional Horseman of the Year Award
Harry Sebring Professional Horseman of the Year Award
Tony C. Ray Young Professional of the Year Award
Associate Membership Award
National Honor Show
Sportsmanship Award
Re-nominations
All award nominations will automatically be carried over for consideration in subsequent years for up to three years.* After this period, the nominee's name will be removed from the list, and a new nomination must be submitted. Nominees may update their nomination materials if desired, prior to the nomination deadline each year.
*Note: see explanation above regarding previously submitted nominations.
What Happens After You Submit an Award Nomination?
Nominations will be submitted to the Executive Board for review. The Executive Board verifies the nominee meets the criteria for the award, they then vote electronically to narrow down the eligible nominations to two to four nominees. The full board votes electronically to select the award winner. The award winner is then notified by an Executive Board member that they have been chosen to receive an award. The award winner will then will be contacted to explain the information needed for Richfield Video to produce the presentation video.
Awards Presentation
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The majority of the award presentations are made at the UPHA National Conference. However, the Executive Board may elect to present an award at another location at their discretion.
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The UPHA Jesus Gonzales Caretaker Hall of Fame awards are traditionally presented at Lexington Junior League Charity Horse Show and Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show. They may be presented at other shows at the discretion of the Executive Board.
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The award recipients or their designee must assist in compiling information for the awards presentation by the set deadlines.
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Upon notification of selection, Richfield Video Productions is contracted by UPHA to prepare the video presentations.
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A UPHA designee will work with the award winners on the script, photos, video clips, etc. used in the presentation.
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UPHA covers the cost of creating the video presentation.