2011 SHELL SHOW 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 (vs. artistic) exhibit which best advances the interest in shells and shell collecting.
The COA Award may only be given to a blue ribbon or first prize winner and may not be given to:
- An exhibit receiving another major award (i.e. DuPont, Smithsonian, American Museum of Natural History, etc.) at the same show (meaning the same occasion).
- An exhibit which has previously won a COA Award, at any show, unless fifty percent or more of the contents and format ahs been changed or added.
- A shell dealer, unless the exhibit is made entirely of self-collected shells.
- A professional malacologist.
There is no limit to the number of times a person may win the COA Award.
The COA Award may be given only at shell shows open to the public and where no restrictions are placed on club or regional affiliation of the exhibitors.
The Award may be given to a shell club for its shell show no more than once a year. It is sent free of charge upon approval of a trophy request.
Sponsoring clubs are advised to in corporate the above guidelines in their respective shell show rules and have them communicated to all prospective exhibitors.
All clubs are encouraged to obtain membership in COA.
The COA Award Committee Chairman shell be responsible for receiving and processing trophy requests in a timely manner and for overseeing that the aforementioned guidelines are adhered to.

Du Pont Trophy
Awarded by 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 and attractiveness, and that will contribute most to the success of the Shell Show.
This trophy may be only awarded to a blue ribbon or first prize winner. It may not be awarded to any exhibit that has previously won it in this or any other shell show, any commercial dealer or any professional malacologist.
The purpose of this award is to advance the cause of amateur Malacology by encouraging the entry of exhibits that will stimulate public interest and increase appreciation of the hobby and the scientific study of mollusks. The official judges of the shell show shell determine the winner.

Dean and Dottie Weber Environmental Awareness Trophy
Sponsored by North Carolina Shell Club
The award is named in honor of long time club members Dean and Dorothy (Dottie) Weber for years of leadership including Chair of the Shell Show and offices including President. They traveled the world collecting adding only those shells to their collection they found themselves and never collected a living mollusk. Coupled with detailed notes of the paces they went and thorough knowledge of mollusk nomenclature and natural history they earned many prestigious awards including COA and DuPont.
The Award promotes the awareness and recording of the environment in which mollusks live in addition to detailed records of the mollusks. Successful exhibits utilize information that paints an entire picture of the mollusks and how they fit into the entire environment in which they live. Defining or outlining conservation concern is a plus. How are mollusks impacted by over collecting, pollution, poor colleting practices, habitat destruction and/or the introduction of exotic species?
The engraved Award is a large acrylic piece that sits on a table top.

Hugh Porter Award
Sponsored by North Carolina Shell Club
The annual award is named in honor of long time member and professional malacologist Hugh Porter. 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.
The Award is a large solid Walnut plaque with the North Carolina State Shell, the Scotch Bonnet, engraved on a brass pate as well as a description of the award qualifications.
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
9. Specialized Collection
11. Family or Genus Collection
12. Miniature Collection
13. Educational Collection
14. Molluscan Natural History Collection
15. One Case Wonders
16. Junior Collection
17. Novice Collection
19. Beach Collected Shells
24. Other Collection
Exhibits wishing to compete for this Award must feature marine mollusks from one of more of the Western Atlantic faunal provinces: Boreal, Virginian, Carolinian, and/or Caribbean. All shells in the exhibit must have been found in one, a [portion of one or combination of these Provinces. Species that normally occur in these Provinces, but were collected in neighboring provinces do not qualify.
The intent of the Award is to promote scientific study of mollusks of the Western Atlantic including precise observations of biology and/or habitats with professional quality presentation. The exhibit will be judged on accuracy of scientific labeling and data. Representing all molluscan fauna including obscure or unattractive species is important to the success of the exhibit.
An exhibit is eligible to win the Award once. However, if an exhibit has been reworked at least 50% through a combination of new specimens and/or labels/text it can qualify again. There is no limit to the number of times a person may win The Hugh Porter Award.