Download Awards Eligibility Document

• All Award Nomination Forms must be complete and must be signed by the nominator/entrant. Applications must be condensed to fit on the application sheet. One set of complete paper copies and 7 CD discs of each nomination must be submitted. Incomplete applications may be disqualified. Nominations must be received by December 17, 2007. Late submittals will not be considered.
• The number of pages for the nomination may not exceed 50 (does not include application page). Pages over the limit will not be included in jury evaluation and excessive overages may invalidate the nomination. Attachments may include photos, news articles, a Power Point Presentation, maps, drawings, etc. Nomination should explain why the plan, program, or person should be considered for the specific award it or they are being nominated for. Explanation must include how the nomination meets all criteria. For all awards but the Outstanding Planner, the submission should draw out portions of the tool, practice, program, project, process, or plan that should be considered by the jury and explain what the significance of it is.
• When making a nomination for Outstanding Plan, Outstanding Private Sector Plan, Planning Innovation Award, or Public Awareness and Journalism Award, the jury will not judge the actual document, but rather the actual written nomination. Each of the seven CDs must contain a copy of the original document being nominated for reference by the jury. One printed copy of the document should also be submitted as a part of the paper nomination package, but will not be counted as part of the 50 page limitation.
  
• Any project submitted for the Student Project Award must have been prepared during the 2006 – 2007 or 2007 – 2008 school years.
  
• Any nomination for consideration as an Outstanding Plan, Outstanding Private Sector Plan, Planning Innovation Award, or the Public Awareness and Journalism Award must have been published or completed within two (2) years (December 2005) of the date of submission.
  
• Nominators must select the most appropriate category for the submission. No changes will be allowed by the nominator after the submission deadline. The Awards Jury, by unanimous vote, may move a submission from one category to another.
  
• Submissions are ineligible to receive an award more than once. Non-winning entries from last year may be resubmitted this year if they meet the time frame criteria.
• Any person, regardless of membership in the American Planning Association, or the Virginia Chapter may submit an award nomination.
• Members of the VAPA Awards Jury and the VAPA Board of Directors are not eligible to enter or be nominated to receive individual awards. The exception to this is that they may nominate an individual for outstanding local or state elected official or citizen planner, as long as the local official is not in their chain of command. However, nominations may be submitted from employers of Jury and Board members for projects in which they or their jurisdictions played a part. These individuals may not attempt to influence or affect the outcome of the selection process for projects nominated in other award categories, and Award Jury members may not participate in the discussion or selection of a nomination in which they played a part.
• Communications with the Awards Jury for the purpose in influencing the selection on behalf of a nominee or submission is considered cause for disqualification.
  
• All submitted material becomes the property of VAPA and will not be returned.
• If the jury feels that none of the nominations in a particular category meet all the requirements, the jury is not obligated to give an award in that category.

If you have questions about the awards, please contact jheffington@hrsd.com

The Jack R. “John” Marlles Memorial Scholarship

In honor of Mr. Jack R. “John” Marlles, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) of Richmond District Council and the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association (VAPA) have joined with Virginia Commonwealth University to establish the Jack R. “John” Marlles Memorial Scholarship in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. Marlles was an ’83 graduate of VCU’s Master’s Program in Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) and had an extensive and well-noted career in urban planning. Mr. Marlles passed away on September 20, 2005.

Mr. Marlles was a dedicated public servant. He came to Richmond in 1979 to work for the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. While there, he was responsible for the introduction into the Commonwealth of Virginia the Main Street Program and the Virginia Urban Enterprise Zone Program. In 1987, he took over as chief of the Department of Planning and Community Development in Roanoke, Virginia, where he helped to shape such projects as the re-opening of the Hotel Roanoke. Mr. Marlles returned with his family to the Richmond area in 1998 to direct the Planning Department for the County of Henrico. In 2004, he created a new department of community revitalization in Henrico County and became the department’s first director. In addition to his work, Mr. Marlles was a great supporter of the Boy Scouts of America and an avid Civil War buff. Mr. Marlles was best known for his humility and generosity of spirit.

Download Full Scholarship Information