2013
Golden Eagle
Awards
Nomination Instruction Booklet
120 Broadway
Macon, Georgia 31201
Purpose
The Golden Eagle Award is an award for academic excellence. The Golden Eagle Award is
presented to Middle Georgia high school seniors who have unselfishly used their talents and
abilities to serve their schools and communities.
Eligibility
The competition is open to all high school seniors, (public schools, private schools, and home
schools), in our home delivery circulation area.
Qualifications
Scholarship and service are essential qualifications for a Golden Eagle nominee. The Golden
Eagle Award is given to the individual in each category whose record of achievement and service
to school and community best exemplifies the unselfish use of his or her talents and abilities to
help others, in relation to their category.
The period of performance is not of prime importance. Work through all the high school grades
or any part thereof may be considered.
General measurements to determine an individual’s qualifications:
A. Achievement: Accomplishments, honors, and recognition represent evidence of
achievement, both in school and community. Important are the direction of purpose
(as applied in the student’s category), realization of goals, and persistence.
B. Leadership: Initiative in constructive programs, poise in facing difficult problems
and courage in meeting responsibilities are hallmarks of a good leader. A list of
elected positions will demonstrate popularity with others, which opens the door to
real leadership. How this opportunity is used is a prime factor for consideration.
C. Character: The character of the individual can be judged by observing personal
habits and attitudes. An appreciation of our society’s moral and spiritual values and a
sense of good judgment as reflected in relationships with others are also important.
A person’s ability to overcome physical or environmental handicaps is another sign
of character.
Guidelines for the selection of nominees by categories are also outlined in this booklet. These
specific guidelines plus the general measurements of achievement, leadership, and character
should form the basis for nominee selection.
Please avoid nominating students in inappropriate categories. All nomination forms will be
reviewed to ensure this classification has been met. The judges will review the entries and
students submitted in inappropriate categories may be switched.
The judges are instructed to take achievement, character, and leadership into consideration as
well as any other attribute they observe in a candidate. Specific percentages of weight for certain
types of attributes (for example: grades, extra-curricular activities, awards) are not given to the
judges.
11 Categories and Criteria
ART: The candidate may have provided outstanding service using his or her creative ability in
drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, architecture or in any other medium. The candidate
may have worked on school or community projects or have inspired, encouraged or taught others
through practical application of creative abilities. Each nominee in this category should bring
three (3) examples of his or her artwork to the judging on Saturday, March 16, 2013, for review
by the judges. Please inform students in this category of this requirement.
CITIZENSHIP: The candidate should be aware of the concerns of his or her school and or
community. They may have exhibited or demonstrated their concern through the development of
special projects, volunteer work with a community organization, work done promoting the
awareness of a particular cause or concern within the community or other activities targeted
toward serving others, the community, or the political system of their school. The candidate may
have used creative and academic skills to accomplish specific goals, promote interest and
awareness of specific community projects. The student may be an elected official or one others
look to for leadership, civic consciousness, dependability and a spirit of helpfulness.
DRAMA: The candidate may have provided outstanding service as a dramatist, director, writer,
or organizer in the theatrical arts. He or she may have designed or constructed unusual sets,
created original scripts, aided school or community projects or served to inspire fellow students.
An applicant whose specialty is one of the performing dramatic arts may make a three-minute
presentation for review by the judges on Saturday, March 16, 2013. It is not required. Please
inform students of this option.
ENGLISH AND LITERATURE: The candidate may have provided outstanding service in this
category through leadership by initiating activities related to a fuller appreciation of English and
literary works or may have used his or her skills in this area to benefit some segment of the
community.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE: The candidate may have provided outstanding service in foreign
language clubs or society projects or made unusual contributions to the advancement of foreign
language study at his or her school. The candidate’s skill in foreign language may have been
used to promote better international relations or understanding. Nominees in this category should
be prepared to give up to a two-minute speech in their language of study during the interview on
Saturday, March 16, 2013. Please inform students in this category of this requirement.
INDUSTRIAL -VOCATIONAL: The candidate may have provided outstanding service in the
fields of industrial, business or vocational education. His or her efforts may have involved
agriculture, business, marketing, Family and Consumer sciences or trade & industrial education.
Practical application that serves to lead or inspire others in these areas is far more important than
ability or subject mastery.
JOURNALISM: The candidate may have provided outstanding service by working on student
publications or by demonstrating unusual devotion to the accomplishment of some specific goals
designed to benefit fellow students or members of the community through work with one or more
newspapers, magazines, yearbooks, or other journalistic outlets. Nominees should bring an
example of their work for review by the judges on Saturday, March 16, 2013. Please inform
students of this requirement.
MATHEMATICS: The candidate may have provided outstanding service by contributing to
mathematical knowledge through individual or group research projects. Any ability in
mathematics may have been used to help others.
MUSIC: The candidate may have used musical talent or knowledge of music to serve others. He
or she may have been the inspiring force in a musical group or the originator or leader of musicrelated projects. Instrumental and vocal nominees are asked to give a three-minute recital during
their interview with the judges on Saturday, March 16, 2013. The candidate must provide the
accompanist, if needed. Please inform music nominees of this requirement.
SCIENCE: The candidate may have provided outstanding service by inventiveness or
application of the principals of chemistry, physics, biology, earth sciences, physiology,
electronics, or other scientific areas of study. Efforts in the areas of ecology may also be included
in this category.
TECHNOLOGY: The candidate may have provided outstanding service in the fields of
computer science or technology such as multimedia, robotics, computer repair, and database
management. The candidate may have provided outstanding service to school or community by
using their knowledge of technology to address a problem or issue.
Method of Nomination
1. A student may be nominated in only one category.
2. Applications can either be filled out electronically or by hand. The nomination forms can be
returned to The Telegraph via email to rrobertson@macon.com or mailed to 120 Broadway,
Macon Ga 31201.
3. The completed entry forms will be given to the principal or the person appointed by the
principal in each school.
4. It will be the responsibility of the principal to have the designated counselor fill out the
teacher’s comment section on the entry form. If the nominee is a home school student, it will be
the responsibility of the student’s primary teacher to complete the teacher’s section on the entry
form.
5. The principal must certify the accuracy of statements submitted by the candidate and the
teacher on the entry form. If the nominee is a home school student, the local area home school
association president must certify the accuracy of the statements submitted.
6. A school committee, working under the direction of the principal or his/her designated
representative, will determine which candidate in each category shall be submitted to The
Telegraph for final judging. A local home school association will act as the nominating
committee for all home school students from their area. Any home school student nomination
received without the local association president’s certification will be ineligible for consideration.
Judging
Volunteers who are experts in each category will be selected by The Telegraph to determine the
winners. In every case, their decision is final. Judges will individually review the entry forms in
each category. Then on Saturday, March 16, 2013, the judges will meet to interview each
nominee. Nominees will be notified of their interview time prior to the judging session.
IMPORTANT: It is not possible to schedule the interview on another day. A
candidate who is unable to attend the judging session will be ineligible to win a
Golden Eagle Award. If a student prefers a certain interview time due to another
commitment, please note this on the entry form and bring it to The Telegraph’s
attention when delivering the nomination package. We will try to accommodate the
student if possible.
Awards
One winner will be made in each category and will receive a Golden Eagle trophy and a $1,000
check. One honorable mention award will be made in each category and will receive a certificate
and a $300 check. All winners must be prepared to provide a copy of their Social Security card to
The Telegraph for IRS verification purposes.
General Information
1. The Telegraph will only accept entries submitted from a high school or area home school
association official awards committee.
2. Entry forms will not be returned. Nominees should make a copy of the completed form for
future use.
3. The student’s name must be entered on the entry form exactly as he or she wishes it to appear
on the certificates.
If you need additional information or have any questions,
please call Becky Robertson at (478)744-4291, rrobertson@macon.com