Annual Awards

Your Opportunity to Shine!

The Annual Awards Program highlights your sister city program's achievements and brings international recognition to your community's contributions to the citizen diplomacy movement. Sister Cities International established the Annual Awards Program in 1962 to recognize exceptional sister city programs. Current dues-paying members of Sister Cities International with at least one formally recognized sister city partnership can apply for the Awards.

Winners will be highlighted on Sister Cities International’s website, social media network, as well as in national and regional press outreach. Winners will be honored at an exclusive Awards Banquet at the 59th Sister Cities International Annual Conference in Minneapolis, MN July 16-18, 2015 and will receive discounted registration to the Annual Conference.  

THE APPLICATION WINDOW WILL CLOSE APRIL 17, 2015 AT 11:59 PM EST.

Please read the eligibility and rules and regulations carefully before applying. THERE IS NO APPLICATION FEE TO NOMINATE YOUR PROGRAM FOR THE ANNUAL AWARDS. For any questions, email awards@sistercities.org.

Awards applications are open in the following categories:

• Best Overall
• Innovation (Arts & Culture, Economic Development, Youth)
• Volunteer of the Year
• Youth Leadership

Please carefully review the following before applying:

• Eligibility
• Rules and Regulations
• Evaluating Your Entry
• Submission Requirements
• Application Forms

Best Overall Program Award

Deadline: April 17, 2015

The Best Overall Program Awards recognize sister city programs that demonstrate outstanding accomplishments in advancing the goals and mission of the sister cities movement. This award recognizes the overall program, including all sister city partnerships and affiliations. Awards are presented to six communities according to population size:

Innovation Awards

Deadline: April 17, 2015

The Innovation Awards recognize the accomplishments of outstanding community and individual sister city programs that promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation.

Innovation Categories:

Volunteer of the Year Award

Deadline: April 17, 2015

The Volunteer of the Year Award honors one exemplary volunteer for contributions to the sister city movement. It recognizes the leadership and talent that benefit local sister city programs and the larger sister city network. The Volunteer of the Year will receive complimentary registration to the 2015 Sister Cities International Annual Conference in Minneapolis, MN.

Youth Leadership Award

Deadline: April 17, 2015

The Youth Leadership Award honors one exemplary youth (18 years and under) for contributions to the sister cities movement. It recognizes the leadership and talent that benefit local sister city programs and the larger sister cities network. The Youth award winner will receive complimentary registration to the 2015 Youth Leadership Summit in conjunction with the Annual Conference in Minneapolis, MN.

Eligibility: 

All applicants must be an exemplary model of a sister city program and must meet the following criteria:

• Be a current dues-paying member of Sister Cities International;
• Have at least one formally recognized sister city partnership;
• Submit entries for programs that were conducted during 2014 only; and
• Must not have won in an Innovation Award in the same category in the previous awards cycle (awarded at the 2014 Annual Conference).

The Nominator for the Volunteer of the Year and Youth Leadership Awards must meet the following criteria:

• Be from a current dues-paying member of Sister Cities International;
• Be actively involved in the local sister city program; and
• Local program must not have won in the Volunteer of the Year/Youth Leadership Award category in the previous awards cycle.

The Nominee for the Volunteer of the Year and Youth Leadership Awards must be an exemplary model of a sister cities program volunteer and meet the following criteria:

• Be from a current dues-paying member of Sister Cities International and
• Be actively involved in the local sister city program.

Rules and Regulations:

• Awards are based on achievements made in 2014.
• All applicants must answer all questions on the application form.
• If entering your program in more than one category, please complete and submit a separate word document for EACH category.

Evaluating Your Entry:

• A panel of judges with experience in international affairs and sister city programs will review all entries and select award recipients.
• Judges must be able to clearly understand the goals and accomplishments of your local program.
• Tell your story as though you are presenting your entry to a person who is unfamiliar with your program. Please be mindful of the word limit on the program narrative statements.
• Judges will convene to review all eligible entries and make final decisions.
• Judges reserve the right to disqualify any entry that does not meet the eligibility criteria.
• All participants will be notified of the results in writing.

Submission Requirements:

• Please email your answers in a word document, along with photos, to awards@sistercities.org.
• All entries must be received by April 17, 2015. Applications received after that date will not be accepted. No exceptions!
• Please note that incomplete applications will not be accepted.

NOTE: Supplemental materials may be required ONLY if your entry is selected as the winner. These may include additional photographs, newspaper articles, and press releases of the highlights for the sister city program.

You will receive a submission confirmation via email within 2-3 days of receipt. If you do not receive a confirmation from us, please email awards@sistercities.org.

Application Forms:

• Best Overall Program Application Form
• Innovations Awards Application Form
• Volunteer of the Year Award Application Form
• Youth Leadership Award Application Form