SHELL SHOW AWARDS

 

Major Awards:

Conchologists of America Trophy
The Conchologists of America Award, consisting of a trophy and a pin, has been established to encourage open participation by shell collectors at shell shows and to stimulate improvements in shell exhibits. This award, based on sound and impartial judging processes, is given at a shell show to a single scientific exhibit which best advances the interest in shells and shell collecting.

Du Pont Trophy
The Du Pont Trophy is awarded by the Delaware Museum of Natural History for the most outstanding exhibit of the Shell Show. This annual award is made to the amateur collector or group responsible for the exhibit that, in the opinion of the judges, will be most inspiring and instructive for its:

  • Educational Value
  • Accurate Scientific Data
  • Attractiveness and will contribute most to the success of the Shell Show

Dean and Dottie Weber Environmental Awareness Trophy
This award, honoring long-time members Dean & Dottie Weber for their environmental concern, is given to the exhibit which, by decision of the judges, best contributes to education in the areas of environment, conservation, or biology of mollusks.

Janet Durand Self-Collected Trophy
This award, in honor of avid shell crafter and long-time Club Treasurer, Janet Durand, is award to an Outstanding Arts & Crafts Exhibit composed of only marine-related materials personally collected by the exhibitor.

Hugh Porter Award

The North Carolina Shell Club is proud to sponsor this award, named in honor of long time member and professional malacologist Hugh Porter, for the 10th year. Hugh Porter is a retired faculty member of the University of North Carolina Institute of Marine Sciences who worked for the University for 42 years. He is the author of Sea Shells of North Carolina, which was released in 1998 in a new updated and expanded volume.

Exhibits entered in the following categories of the show are eligible for this award:

#1 – North Carolina Collection
#2 – Regional Self-Collected Collection
#3 – Regional Any Source Collection
#6 – Fresh Water Collection
#7 – Land Snails
#8 – Fossil Mollusks
#9 – Specialized Collection
#11 – Family or Genus Collection
#12 – Miniature Collection
#13 – Educational Collection
#14 – Molluskan Natural History Collection
#15 – One Case Wonders
#16 – Junior Collection
#17 – Novice Collection
#19 – Beach Collected Shells
#24 – Other Collection

(Award description continued next column)

 

(Hugh Porter Award continued)

Exhibits wishing to compete for this award must feature marine mollusks from one or more of the Western Atlantic faunal provinces: that is, the Boreal, Virginian, Carolinian and Caribbean provinces. All Shells in the exhibit must have been found in one of these provinces. Species that normally occur in these provinces, but were actually collected in neighboring provinces, do not qualify.

The intent of this award is to encourage scientific study of the mollusks of the Western Atlantic and precise observations about biology and/or habits. As such, the exhibit will be judged on accuracy of scientific labeling and data. The exhibit may include the entire region or a specific section of it. Completeness of representative fauna is very important, including obscure or “unattractive” species. Accurate locality data is a must. Biological observations and natural history are a definite plus. Though professionalism is encouraged in all entries of the show, it will be particularly important for this category. As with the COA and du Pont awards, if no exhibit qualifies, the award will not be given.

This is an annual award. Entrants will be eligible for the award as many times as they have an exhibit that meets the qualifications. Although past Hugh Porter award winners are still eligible to receive the award in future years, exhibits which have won the award must be reworked at least 50% in order to be eligible.

 


Special Category Trophies:


Best Shell in Show
Best Self Collected Shell
Best Self Collected Exhibit
Best North Carolina Collection
Best of Arts and Crafts
Best Photography
Best Novice Collection

 

Special Category Plaques:

Best Junior Exhibit Award

Exhibitors' Choice Award:
Best exhibit--chosen by vote of all exhibitors

People's Choice Award:
Best exhibit--chosen by vote of the viewing public

 

Ribbons:


Ribbons (first, second and third) are awarded in all categories in addition to any applicable trophies. Each Judge is also allowed one Judge's Special Award Ribbon which is awarded at their sole discretion.

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All trophies and ribbons will be awarded at the sole discretion of the judges.