[Heritage] 2026 Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards - Open for nominations!

[INFO Heritage * OPRD]

2026 Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards - Open for nominations!
The Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Awards.aspx#one> recognize individuals, organizations and projects for outstanding heritage preservation efforts in Oregon, drawing public attention to these efforts, and raising the quality of heritage‐oriented activities. Awards will be presented during the 2026 Oregon Heritage Conference<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/heritageconference.aspx>, April 29 - May 2 in Woodburn. The awards are presented by Oregon Heritage, a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department that houses the Oregon Heritage Commission and the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office.
The Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards honor those that have made the most of available resources and skills and are given for exceptional and meritorious work by organizations or individuals. Nominations are encouraged for organizations and projects of all sizes and heritage purposes and for volunteers and professionals from all heritage sectors. The Sally Donovan Award for Historic Cemeteries will specifically be awarded for excellence in work preserving Oregon historic cemeteries. In 2022 the Standout Heritage Volunteer category was added and is the only non-competitive category.
Action over and above the ordinary call of duty is an award prerequisite. Special consideration is given to the development of new ideas, approaches and innovations. The mere fulfillment of routine functions does not justify an award. Previous award winners will be honored a second time only if their new work represents a major improvement above the level for which they were previously honored. View past award winners and projects  here<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/pages/awards.aspx#one>.
Awards timeline

  *   Deadline: January 22, 2026, 11:59 p.m.
  *   Information Session: Dec. 2, 2025, 1-2pm. Register here<https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/F0-j2jevQvmG1_ChDKmWlQ>.
  *   Notification: Mid-February
  *   Awards presentation event: April 29, 2026, during the 2026 Oregon Heritage Conference in Woodburn<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/heritageconference.aspx>
Categories & selection process
Award categories and criteria and nomination information specific to each category can be found in the awards guidelines here<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Awards.aspx#one>

  *   Competitive Categories: Individual, Organization, Project, and the Sally Donovan Award for Historic Cemeteries
  *   Non-Competitive Category: Standout Heritage Volunteer
How to submit a nomination
Nominations will be submitted online using our grant application system:

  *   Instructions for the online application process and a link to our online application system can be found here: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/pages/awards.aspx#one
For more information: Contact Katie Henry, Oregon Heritage Commission Coordinator, at katie.henry at oprd.oregon.gov<mailto:katie.henry at oprd.oregon.gov> or 503-877-8834
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Oregon Heritage News is a service of Oregon Heritage, a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department that includes the State Historic Preservation Office. Learn more about our programs at www.oregonheritage.org<http://www.oregonheritage.org/>. The news editor can be contacted at heritage.info at oprd.oregon.gov<mailto:heritage.info at oprd.oregon.gov>.

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