Nomination Form

The National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA) Board of Directors annually presents awards to recognize extraordinary accomplishments of individuals and programs in the victims’ movement.  Award nominations are being solicited for the following categories:
  • The Morton Bard Award recognizes the contributions of an individual in an “allied” profession such as law enforcement, prosecution, medicine, mental health, the clergy, etc. 
  • The Tadini Bacigalupi Jr. Award is given to a distinguished victim service program.
  • The Marlene Young Leadership Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the victims’ movement by a program manager, state administrator or related professional.
  • The Margery Fry Award recognizes outstanding service as a victim assistance practitioner.
  • The Edith Surgan Victim Activist Award was established in 1984 to celebrate the life of Edith who continued to advocate for victims rights after being diagnosed with and receiving treatment for cancer. Edith’s daughter Helen was murdered in New York in 1976. Thereafter she moved to New Mexico where she became a tireless advocate for legislative change and the establishment of victim services. She became a national force for establishing victim compensation laws, the passage of bills of rights for victims and the implementation of such legislation. Her last major speech was by telephone from a nursing home bed to the 1983 National Judicial Conference on Victim Rights that resulted in landmark recommendations for the judiciary on responding to victim issues. This award is given to victims or survivors who demonstrate a life of commitment after their victimization to promote rights and services that help change the lives of victims. 
  • The Exceptional Military Victim Advocate Award recognizes outstanding contributions by a military victim advocate (active duty, civilian or contractor) to service members and dependents (award will be selected by NOVA staff).   
Individuals and programs may nominate themselves. NOVA Board members and programs that employ them are ineligible, as are recipients of personal awards within the past five years. Awards will be selected by the NOVA Board which reserves the right to assign award recipients to the most appropriate category. Awards are made with the NOVA Board of Directors’ sole discretion.

Awards will be presented during the month of May following National Crime Victims' Rights Week.  

Nominators completing this form and the references listed should be able to speak to the alignment of the nominee with the selected award.

Nominations must be received no later than April 30th, 2024, and include the following information:

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* 1. Award Category:

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* 2. Nominee Contact Information:

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* 3. Nominator Contact Information (You)

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* 4. First Reference

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* 5. Second Reference

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* 6. Third Reference

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* 7. Please provide a written description highlighting any specific accomplishments that align with the purpose of the award (500 word maximum).

The POC for award nominators and nominees is Suzannah Rogan, who can be reached at suzannah.rogan@gmail.com.

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