The SEPA Fellowship Award

Statement of Purpose

The Paul W. Campbell Fellowship Award was established by SEPA Council in early 1997 to recognize those individuals who exemplify the best qualities of personnel working in the planetarium field. These people, through their action and example, provide our membership standards of excellence to strive for or even surpass. Since the key to the success of any great organization is in its people, it is right and proper that we honor those who have helped define these qualities in our profession.

Criteria for Nomination

To qualify for this award the individual must be (or have been) a member of SEPA for at least 10 years. They must display qualities in each of the five areas signified by the award.

1. Integrity

   Maintains high standards for the profession
   Is respected by peers in the organization

2. Friendship

   Fosters a community spirit within SEPA
   Is helpful to other members

3. Service

   Shows long term support of the organization
   Active participation at the committee level or higher
   Is willing to volunteer for the group

4. Knowledge

   Maintains expertise in the planetarium field
   Seeks to continually improve skills

5. Vision

   Displays creativity and imagination
   Sets challenging goals

Procedure for Nomination

The award is presented under the direction and vote of Council. The time, place and number of awards is wholly the discretion of the Council. Council will, as necessary, review the membership rolls to decide if a member is deserving of consideration for an award.

Any member may petition Council to consider another member by submitting, in writing, a statement expressing why the individual should be considered. This statement should address the criteria listed as prerequisite for the award and be signed by five members that support the nomination.

Description of the Award

The present form of the award employs the shape of a five pointed star. This astronomical design represents our profession but also signifies a “star performer” or the “stellar qualities” of the recipient. Each point of the star represents one of the criteria for the award. The bottom two points, on which the award stands, represent knowledge and vision. As the support for the award, they symbolize the importance of knowledge and vision in forming a solid foundation on which to build one’s goals. The two side points of the star signify service and friendship. They symbolize reaching out to offer assistance on both an individual level and for the organization as a whole. The top point of the star stands for integrity. It symbolizes the high standards and ethics to which the individual strives. All five points are of equal size and in perfect symmetry; a symbolic representation of the way all the criteria work in harmony to produce a fine balance with no part being more or less important. The resulting star is a thing of beauty and a shining example of the whole being greater than any one part.

Fellowship Award Recipients