Overview
Annually, Yale regional clubs and individual alumni celebrate and recognize outstanding secondary school junior class scholar-citizens. This recognition award includes an appropriate book to which is affixed a Yale bookplate inscribed with student’s name, date of award, Yale club sponsor, and/or award donor. Clubs or individual alumni purchase and inscribe the book, which is presented to the student at an appropriate ceremony. The student recipient is determined by school officials. Students may not self-nominate or campaign for the award nor be related to individual Yale alumni award givers.
Clubs or individual Yale alumni not currently making awards are encouraged to engage with area schools to initiate a Yale Alumni Book Award relationship. Clubs and individuals are also encouraged to increase the number of awards made. To discuss initiating or increasing the Yale Alumni Book Award program within your club, please be in touch with YAA Book Award liaison Johnson Flucker ’80.
Regional clubs participating in the Yale Book Award program help to:
- Bring Yale’s name to local schools by recognizing outstanding students.
- Encourage more students to consider Yale College for their undergraduate degree.
- Engage the community with articles and photos that highlight this honor.
- Present an opportunity for conversations between recipients, their families, and Yale alumni.
Details to know and how to participate:
- Yale regional clubs and individual alumni present this award to outstanding local high school students, generally at the end of their junior year.
- Clubs or individual alumni decide the number of awards and which schools are to be involved.
- In consultation with school officials, the club or individual alumnus determines the criteria for the award, which should include “outstanding personal character and intellectual promise.” The selection of award recipients is made by school officials.
- Award books are selected and purchased by the regional club or individual alum as appropriate. If helpful, please know that the Yale University Press (YUP) has a curated selection of 34 appropriate books available for purchase at 50% discount plus postage. Choose from that list (on two pages) on the YUP webpage dedicated to the book awards. Some restrictions may apply to international sales; please consult the YUP site for more details. Special note: The Yale University Press is currently experiencing difficulties with their online shopping cart. If you are unable to order online, please place your order by telephone: 800-405-1619 or 401-531-2800 or by fax at 401-531-2801 Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Please provide the discount code at that time. To receive the discount code, contact YAA Book Award liaison Johnson Flucker ’80.
- YAA-branded bookplates are provided free of charge. They are ordered, inscribed, and affixed in award books by club representatives or individual alumni. Request bookplates via this online order form (shipping time information below).
Shipping considerations:
- Please order books and bookplates early.
- Books ordered from the YUP will be processed and dispatched by TriLiteral, LLC. Bookplate orders will be sent from the YAA.
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, extended processing and shipping times are likely. Allow 4-5 weeks for U.S. delivery. International deliveries will likely take much longer.
Other:
- Every effort should be made to maintain a high degree of prestige and visibility for the award in your area.
- Local publicity is recommended. Local media outlets are often eager to publicize or promote; why not provide them with a photo of a previous year’s award recipient?
- Due to current conditions, we encourage virtual presentation of the book award, by a local Yale alum in conjunction with the official school ceremony.