SOUTH ATLANTIC AWARDS 2025-2027
Regional Awards Chairman – Susan Throneberry
4621 Old Scottsville Road
Alvaton, KY 42122
Sthroneberry1@gmail.com
AWARD RULES
- Award year: January 1 through December 31
- DEADLINE: January 25th is the deadline for most SAR award entries to reach the SAR Awards Chairperson. All entries shall first be judged by respective states at the STATE level. The State Awards Chairperson shall do one or a combination of the following: MAIL – the State winner of each award to be reviewed in ONE (1) PACKAGE or EMAIL each separately to the email address shown with these rules. Each State Awards Chairperson MUST send a list of the award winners being submitted to SAR for review and all award submissions MUST include the SAR Award Name.
- Application Form: The application form is a separate sheet. Forms available at the end of the awards list or may be found on the website as a separate item at: https://www.southatlanticregiongardenclubs.org/ (look for ‘Awards’ drop down menu) or from your State Awards Chairperson.
Items to Note:- Three (3) page limit – One side only of the page; does NOT include application form;
- Font style: Times New Roman NOT smaller than size “10” font;
- Please fill out an Application Form for each Award you apply for;
- Binders & vinyl sheet protectors are no longer needed nor allowed; NOTE there is an exception!
- Submissions will NOT be returned after the SAR Convention;
Applications may be submitted for certain awards on CD or Thumb Drive.
- Yearbook, Press Book and some Youth Awards are exceptions which have specific rules, etc. Please consult award descriptions for details.
- Categories by Club Size: Some awards specify awards according to club size and they are as follows:
- Small Club: 20 members or Less
- Medium Club: 21 – 50 members
- Large Club: 51+ members
- Two or more clubs
SCALE OF POINTS FOR JUDGING SAR AWARDS
5 POINTS: Presentation – neat, concise, includes all required information & does not exceed 3 page limit.
15 POINTS: Participation – size of club, involvement of members, community, government agencies, professionals, residents in facilities, others (involvement is not required in all of these).
15 POINTS: Supporting Documents – supporting data (as applicable), clear, well-labeled & neatly attached; “Before” & “After” photos, landscape plan (does not have to be professionally drawn), financial report, letters of appreciation, community awards, recognition, newspaper/magazine articles, radio or TV script (if possible) etc. Photocopies are permitted but need to be “readable”.
65 POINTS: Achievement – Scope of project, need & fulfillment; benefit, accomplishment, comprehensive work, activities to attain goals, evaluation of goals reached, educational, prior planning, very brief history of continuing project, financial report & other information available.
100 POINT TOTAL
2025-2027 AWARDS
Special Regional Director Awards
**Applications for the following Special Regional Director Awards are to be received by January 25th. Please send the applications to:
Sharon Jones O’Connell
85 Surber Drive, Moneta, VA 24121
954-253-4383
toddie1904@aol.com
SP #1 “Watch Us Grow” Membership
$100.00 Cash Award and certificate to the club with the highest membership increase by percentage.
SP #2 “Watch Us Grow” Leadership
$100.00 Cash Award and certificate to the club with the best Leadership Training Initiative: Program, Classes, Retreat, etc.
SP #3 “Watch Us Grow/Plant America” with Native Plants
$25 Cash Award for each membership category to the best new or existing project using native plants. i) Small Club ii) Medium Club iii) Large Club
#1 ARBOR DAY TREE PLANTING/ACTIVITIES
$25 Cash Award to the club with the most outstanding tree planting activity and/or promotion of conservation and preservation of trees and/or Arbor Day Activities. i) Small Club ii) Medium Club iii) Large Club iv) Two or more clubs
#2 BIRD PROTECTION
$25 Cash Award to a club conducting the most comprehensive and effective project for bird protection and welfare, such as sanctuaries, providing food, houses and promoting law enforcement relative to bird welfare. i) Small Club ii) Medium Club iii) Large Club iv) Two or more clubs
#3 PROTECTING POLLINATORS AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club, group of clubs or council for the most comprehensive and effective project for our pollinators: habitat protection, protective of migratory routes, public education, establishment of a butterfly garden at a school or community site. Monarch Way Stations may be a part of this project.
#4 PERMANENT COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS
$25 Cash Award for the most distinguished civic improvement for public benefit: establishing sanctuaries, municipal gardens, landscaping public buildings, etc. Copy of landscape plan MUST be included – COMMERCIAL projects are not eligible!
#5 ENVIRONMENTAL/CONSERVATION AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club, group of clubs or council for the most concentrated activity/study/project to improve our environment (such as soil, water, energy, air and/or natural resources).
#6 GARDEN THERAPY: HEALING GARDEN AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club, council or group of clubs having the most outstanding garden therapy project in which a Healing Garden is an integral part. Projects using plant materials working with handicapped or elderly persons in institutions or organized care programs for nursing homes, etc. Evidence must show handicapped or elderly persons involved in the garden. (If not allowed, please have documentation from the facility.)
#7 GARDEN THERAPY: HORTICULTURE GARDEN AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club reporting the most outstanding program establishing a garden to benefit the physically or learning challenged, in nursing homes, schools, prisons, low income housing, Habitat for Humanity, etc. Includes barrier-free gardens, accessible gardens, meditation gardens at a nursing home, hospital, etc.
#8 HISTORIC PRESERVATION
$25 Cash Award to a club, group or clubs or council for the most outstanding project continuing or completing work on a historic preservation project such as a trail, park, cemetery, garden or grounds around a historic building and/or garden of importance to local, state or national heritage.
#9 PLANT-A-TREE AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a garden club in each size category who donates the most $68 contributions to the National Garden Clubs, Inc. Plant-A-Tree Program. The award year will be the same as for SAR Awards. Application needs to include: State, Club Name, Club Size & contact information. The Plant-A-Tree Chairman will be contacted for total contributions. i)Small Club ii)Medium Club iii) Large
#10 NATIONAL GARDEN WEEK
$25 Cash Award to the club, group or council for giving the best overall promotion of National Garden Week. Entry to show community awareness throughout the entire week and include local and/or state proclamations.
#11 ROADSIDE IMPROVEMENT AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club group of clubs or council for notable enhancement of roadsides and/or rest areas using wildflowers and/or native plants. Projects may be sited on rural byways, urban highways, roadside rest areas, entrances to towns, medians, etc.
#12 LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOR CHURCH GARDENS
$25 Cash Award planning and planting of a church or synagogue garden that meets the needs of the congregation. May be a new project or the updating of a current garden. Photos must be included.
#13 PLANT IT PINK
$25 Cash Award for the most outstanding and innovative project by a club or council emphasizing the planting of PINK gardens using pink flowers and/or foliage to make the public aware of the fight against breast cancer.
#14 BLUE STAR & GOLD STAR MARKER LANDSCAPING AWARD
$25 Cash Award for the most outstanding landscaping at a Blue Star or Gold Star Marker by a club, council or group of clubs. The marker and landscaping may be a part of a highway department rest area and maintained by the department. The project may have been continuous but major landscaping must be completed within two (2) years. The project may be a replacement for a destroyed or long neglected landscaped area.
#15 WATER CONSERVATION
$25 Cash Award to the garden club providing the most thorough programming on water conservation. May include legislation, erosion control, watershed protection, clean water ways activities, etc. All must stress the importance of WATER.
#16 SAR LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARD
$25 Cash Award to the STATE having the MOST NEW Regional Life Memberships within the calendar year: January 1 through December 31. Totals will be collected from the Regional Membership Chairperson.
#17 LITTER, RECYCLING, RECLAMATION AWARD
$25 Cash Award to the garden club with the most outstanding community project on litter prevention, reclamation and/or recycling. Can be a new project or an ongoing activity. i)Small Club ii)Medium Club iii) Large Club iv)Two or more
#18 NEWSLETTER PUBLICATION AWARD
$25 Cash Award for the best overall club newsletter. Newsletter must be published three or more times per year under on editorship. Submit only three (3) sample issues and state the number of issues that are published per year. Printed submitted for SAR judging. Notices and flyers for a one-time event do not apply.
#19 PUBLIC RELATIONS AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club, group of clubs or council for the most thorough involvement with a community group, civic organizations, businesses, agencies, etc. working with the garden club on projects, activities and programs for the year.
#20(a) BEST PROGRAM WITH SLIDES, VIDEO OR POWER POINT
$25 Cash Award to an individual member or group of members or club submitting the most outstanding program via slides, video or power point that has been presented at a meeting of a club, group of clubs or council.
#20(b) BEST PROGRAM WITHOUT SLIDES, VIDEO OR POWER POINT
$25 Cash Award to an individual member, group of members or club submitting the most outstanding program without slides, video or power point that has been presented at a meeting or a club, group of clubs or council.
#21 WEBSITE AWARD
$25 Cash Award for the most outstanding website promoting club, State, SAR & NGC objectives. To be included in the information: Website address, who maintains the site, how often it is updated and cost. Ease of navigation will be considered while judging the site. Clubs, councils, and districts may apply.
SCALE OF POINTS FOR WEBSITE JUDGING
- 25 POINTS: PRESENTATION – Design/appearance, attractive, engaging, easy to view, layout.
- 40 POINTS: NAVIGATION – Ease of navigating system (bar, map, etc.) logical flow of pages, clear page Headers, links active
- 25 POINTS: ACHIEVEMENT – Club/group information present/ease to find, educational
- 10 POINTS: PROMOTION – Promotes club, State, SAR & NGC objectives
100 POINT TOTAL
#22 YEARBOOK AWARDS
$25 Cash Award to the individual garden club with the best overall yearbook. Scoring of yearbooks will comply with the point system established by NGC. i)Small Club ii)Medium Club iii) Large Club
- Format: 15 points
- Book Structure 3 points
- Practicability (convenient size, durability, neatness)
- Arrangement of Contents
- Cover 2 points
Name of club, town, state, year (design optional); if permanent type of binder used, substitute paper cover for contest. - Title Page & Table of Contents 4 points
Name of club, town, state, year and number of members National Garden Club and other organizational memberships. - Subsequent pages 6 points
Name and email addresses of National President, Regional Director, State President, District Director, Council Chairman (if any). Club membership roster with complete mailing addresses and phone numbers. Calendar of Events (other than regular meetings).
Program Content: 85 points
Goals for ideal club program: Study and activity in some NGC objectives such as: Birds, Blue Star Memorials, Civic development, conservation, flower shows, Garden Therapy, High School/Junior/Intermediate Gardening, horticulture, landscape design, litter control, roadside development, world gardening, etc.
- Club Meeting(s) (at least 7 per year – in any form) 50 points
- When (date of meeting).
- Where (place of meeting).
- Who (name of person to address group).
- What (title of program). When a theme is used it should prevail in at least a majority of meetings.
- Club Projects 35 points
- Continuing projects and new projects for the current year should be listed separately.
- Give location, description and member participation in both types of projects.
- Note where meetings – programs pertain to project work.
Total 100 points
#23 PUBLICITY PRESS BOOK AWARD
$25 Cash Award to the best overall Press Book. Winners will be named: 1st, 2nd 3rd & Honorable Mention in each of the following categories: i) Small Club ii) Medium Club iii) Large Club
FOR THE FOLLOWING AWARD – ONLY SECTION 1 OF APPLICATION IS REQUIRED!
ELIGIBILITY: All garden clubs, districts, councils and garden centers belonging to NGC may submit a Press Book.
FORMAT: Entries must be submitted in a folder with holes to firmly hold pages; a theme-style binder or oxford brief folder. No heavy scrap books, oversized portfolios or loose clippings will be judged. Size 8½” x11” or 9”x12”. GARDEN CLUBS: Note category (small, medium or large), name of club, city, state, region and name and address of person submitting Press Book.
DISTRICT: State, name of person submitting Press Book, number and address.
COUNCILS & GARDEN CENTERS: State, location, name of person submitting Press Book, number and address.
CONTENTS: Materials must consist of only actual newspaper, magazine, newsletter or any printed publication “clipping” with the name and date of publication over each article. No decorative embellishments will affect judging. Affix contents in chronological order beginning January 1 and ending December 31. Pages must be numbered and an index is required. Each published item must contain: name of the club, district, council or garden center and/or individual(s) identified as a member of the garden club, district, council or garden center. Underline the first use of the club’s name, garden club member and/or district, council or garden center’s name in the story or article. Press Books will be judged on quality, quantity, diversity or coverage and requirements set forth in these guidelines. Number of pages is unlimited. Press Books will be returned if stamped, self-addressed envelope is included with entry.
- GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATION OF PUBLICITY PRESS BOOKS:
- Press Book Criteria 30 Points
- Quality 35 Points
- Quantity 20 Points
- Diversity of Coverage 15 Points
- 100 Points Total
#24 STANDARD FLOWER SHOW SCHEDULE AWARDS
SINGLE CLUB
$25 Cash Award for the Best Standard Flower Show Schedule
TWO OR MORE CLUBS OR COUNCIL
$25 Cash Award for the Best Standard Flower Show Schedule
YOUTH AWARDS
#Y1 YOUTH EDUCATION AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a garden club member or senior garden club providing an educational program/activity that promotes NGC objectives for youth in any setting: classroom, 4-H Club, Scouts, Junior, Intermediate or High School Gardeners. Type of program, meeting date and number of youth involved should be included in application.
#Y2 YOUTH CLUB AWARD
$25 Cash Award to the Junior/Intermediate Garden
$25 Cash Award to the Member Garden Club sponsoring the youth club for the most successful promotion of all phases of garden club work. List of programs, meeting dates and number of youth involved should be included in the application.
** Entries for the High School #Y3 SAR essay are to be received by January 1st, 2026. Send the entries or any questions to:
Heidi Sage
1057 Jacks Shop Road
Rochelle, VA 22738
(540) 948-3778
hbsage@aol.com
#Y3 SAR HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST
$200 Cash Award to the Winner – Open to all High School students.
2025-2026 SAR High School Essay Title: “How Can We Use Native Plants for Climate Adaptation?”
The following youth awards #Y4, #5, & #6 must be sent to the designated chairperson listed with the award. Students must follow NGC rules for these contests found on the NGC website.
** Applications for the following #Y4 and #Y5 Youth Poetry and Young Recyclable Sculpture Contest awards are to be received by February 15th. Send the entries or any questions to:
Mary Ann Hext
1997 Browning Road
Rockfield, KY 42274
mhext@outlook.com (Communicate by email, not text)
270-781-8171 (Landline)
#Y4 YOUTH POETRY CONTEST
$10 Cash Award will be presented to each of the winners in Grades K-9th as well as Special Education & ESL Students. 2025-2026. “Plant America for the Next 100 Years.”
#Y5 YOUTH RECYCLABLE SCULPTURE CONTEST
$10 Cash Award will be awarded to each of the youth sculpture winners of Grades 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8th. “Encouraging Youth to Keep Our Planet Green.”
** Entries for the following #Y6 Smokey Bear awards are to be received by February 15, 2026. Send the entries or any questions to:
Darene Honeycutt
167 Hudsontown Road
Dunn, NC 28334-7500
honeycuttdarene@gmail.com
910-385-8398
#Y6 SMOKEY BEAR
$10 Cash Award to each of the poster winners in each grade 1st – 5th. States may send only one (1) winner per grade. Rules on NGC & US Forest Service websites.