Each year the Utah Museums Association presents awards to honor individuals or organizations who have made significant contributions to Utah Museums. Submit an award nomination using the form below by June 30, 2025.  

Need a bit of inspiration? Read this blog post. 

The awardees will be honored at the Awards Dinner on September 24, 2025 held in conjunction with the Annual Conference in Kanab. 

Past Awards Recipients

General Award Criteria:
All award recipients will be expected to attend the awards dinner to accept the award.
Current UMA Board Members are not eligible for individual nominations.

BESSIE JONES VOLUNTEER AWARD 
This award recognizes a volunteer or volunteers whose active support of the mission or program of a Utah Museum resulted in significant institutional impact.  Nomination must clearly describe the impact of the volunteer, include the scope of work and time served (minimum of 80 hours).

PHIL NOTARIANNI DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD 
This award is given to an individual who has shown exceptional dedication, provided lengthy service, or an intense and tangible commitment to Utah's museum community. Nomination must include a description of accomplishments or services provided. This award is conferred only once per individual.

PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD 
This award is given to an individual who has served or is serving in a governmental capacity that in the scope of their duties has rendered vital assistance or support to Utah's museum community. Nominees are not limited to State Legislators or employees, but could include teachers, local officials or agency employees. This award does not need to reflect statewide service, but could apply to a specific museum or support within a county or region. Nomination must include a description of services provided.

AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE 
This award is given to an individual, team, or organization that has shown superior achievement in any aspect of the museum field during the previous 18 months within Utah's museum community. Areas of achievement include, but are not limited to, excellence in administration, advocacy, exhibits, education, collections, preservation/conservation, visitor services, fundraising, professional development, etc. The award will read "Award to Excellence in [achievement area]". Award will only be given in one area each year. Nomination must include scope of work and provide compelling reasons why the nominee's (individual or organization) project or achievement deserves statewide recognition. Activities for nomination must be directly involved within Utah's museum community. Recipient may not receive an Award for Excellence in consecutive years, and not more than once for a project.

RISING PROFESSIONAL AWARD 
This award is given to rising, current museum professionals (students or museum employees) whose work to date demonstrates a commitment to excellence in the field and their commitment to Utah's museum community. The Rising Professional Award will be given in either the student or employee category, not both. Nominee may not be a previous recipient of this award.

     Student Nominee Criteria:
         a. A currently enrolled university/college student or recent graduate pursuing a career in the museum field
         b. Involved in the day-to-day museum operations for over 500 hours (6 months @ 20 hrs/wk) through employment, internship, volunteering, or any combination of the above.
         c. Contributions to the field through documented significant contribution to a Utah museum project and/or research and publication/presentation of significance to Utah museums.

     Employee Nominee Criteria:
         a. Museum Employee who either has less than 10 years of experience as a museum employee or has recently changed areas in the museum field and is re-emerging as a museum professional.
         b. Contributed to the field through documented significant contribution to a Utah museum's project and/or sustained involvement in aiding professional development through presenting in multiple conference presentations (including posters) or training workshops.