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Applications for all awards and grants can be found in the APPLICATIONS tab under RESOURCES on this website. These awards are funded through the generosity of past NYSO DKG members. All interested applicants are encouraged to message the chairs of the committees for further information.
Chair Joanne Carroll
Board of Trustees Committee
Joanne Carroll Chair (Alpha Pi)
Educational Excellence Committee
Amber Gladle (Gamma Epsilon)
Communications and Publicity Committee
Mary-Martha Harvey (Omega)
NYSO Webmaster
Elizabeth Huggler (Tau)
NYSO Secretary, Executive Committee Liaison
Gail Rumsey (Omega)
Omega Chapter Representative
Dr. Anna Marie A. Bonafide (Alpha Nu)
New York State President, Ex Officio
Bea Small Award
Bea Small Award
The Bea Small Award was established in 1999 in memory of Bea Small, a member of the Omega Chapter. The sole purpose of this Award is to recognize State Chapter(s) having an existing program/project which addresses a need of a specific population within the Chapter’s geographical area.
The Board of Trustees administering this Award consists of four Trustees, one of whom shall be selected by Omega Chapter. The other three shall be appointed by the NYSO President from the following: the State Executive Committee, the Educational Excellence Committee and the State Communications Committee.
The Bea Small Award has a base of $10,000. At no time may the principal of the Award be less than $10,000. The interest derived from the base amount is used on an annual or biennial basis as determined by the Board of Trustees.
The submitted project must have been originated by the Chapter and be ongoing for a minimum of two years. The project must respond to the needs of a particular population within the Chapter’s geographical area. The postmarked deadline for submitting the application form to the Chair of the Board of Trustees is February 15th. The application form may be found on the NYSO Website. The application must be submitted by the Chapter President, a Chapter Officer or the Chapter Project Chair. The Chapter President must also sign the application. Electronic submission of the application is preferred. If a project is funded, an article with a photograph should be written for an issue of Pi Lights, the NYSO website and the local media.
The Award consists of a certificate and a monetary amount to be determined by the Board of Trustees. The Award(s) shall be presented to the Chapter during a Spring Executive Board Meeting or NYSO Convention. There is a Post-Project Report Form that is to be submitted by March 15th of the following year. The Award will be publicized in the Fall, Winter or Spring issues of Pi Lights and on the NYSO Website.
Chapters are encouraged to apply for the Award as early as possible. For further information contact the Chair of the Bea Small Award Board of Trustees Chair.
Goals of the Bea small Award Board of Trustees Committee
Review the criteria and guidelines of the Bea Small Award
Advertise the Award by calling for nomination(s) of outstanding programs or projects via Pi Lights, NYSO website and emails
Recognize a State Chapter(s) for an outstanding existing program or project that addresses a need of a specific population within the Chapter’s geographic area
Present the Bea Small Award at the NYSO Spring Awards Luncheon or Convention Awards Brunch
Send NYSO Webmaster and Pi Lights Editor an updated list of recipients, the project themes and descriptions for announcement
Encourage project award recipients to advertise in local media and send articles with photos of their projects for Pi Lights and NYSO website
Chair Dr. Anna Marie A. Bonafide, NYSO President
Committee Members
Dr. Anna Marie A. Bonafide,
Chair, Alpha Nu
Lynda John, Omega
Dr. Andrea H. Morris, Alpha Beta
Amy Zimmerman, NYSO First VP, LDC Representative
Bea Small Leadership Speakers Fund
Bea Small Leadership Speakers Fund
The Bea Small Leadership Speakers Fund is part of the Committees Subject to Endowments. It was established in 1996 from a bequest of Bea Small with additional funds from her daughter, Barbara Woodworth. Bea Small was a member of Omega Chapter. The interest from the $8000 base may be used annually or biennially to provide speakers, facilitators or workshop presenters to assist in the leadership training of NYSO members. This leadership development can occur during Leadership Development Seminars or workshops for State Officers, State Committee Chairs or during the Spring or Fall Seminars or the NYSO Convention. No NYSO members may receive money from the fund. The Committee strongly encourages our members to make contributions to this fund so that outstanding leadership development workshops may be provided in the future. Members may consider a contribution in memory of a sister whom you felt exhibited strong leadership qualities.
Goals of the Bea Small Leadership Speakers Fund Committee:
To review applications and select a speaker(s) for NYSO leadership development training.
To make members more aware of this fund and to solicit donations to re-establish the base.
Chair Tracy Smith,
NYSO Second VP
Committee Members
Tracy Smith Chair, Alpha Psi
Karen Crumley, Tau
Amy Zimmerman, Alpha Tau
Carol Frost, Beta Rho
Dr. Amma Marie Bonafide, NYSO President, Alpha Nu
Frederica Hollister Professional Educator Award
Frederica Hollister Professional Educator Award
The Frederica Hollister Professional Educators Award is given to an active (not reserve) member of the NYS Organization who has held membership for a minimum of five years. She can be an active or former member of the teaching profession who has exemplified the best in education. Her contributions to education and other related fields in New York, and possibly at the national level, should be varied, widely known and well-documented over a period of five years. It should demonstrate the nominee’s commitment to education locally, statewide, and/or nationally.
The Frederica Hollister Professional Educators Award was established in 1988 from a bequest of Past NYSO President Frederica Hollister. She was a member of the Beta Rho Chapter. Along with honoring the recipient of this award, it also honors the memory of Frederica Hollister’s exceptional contributions to education and women educators. All sections of the completed application must be submitted by no later than February 15 to be considered. The nominator must include her letters of support and all requested documentation.
For further information, please contact the Frederica Hollister Professional Educators Award Chair.
Goals of the Committee
To encourage members to nominate a deserving woman for the Frederica Hollister Professional Educators Award through Chapter Presidents, Area Council Chairs, Pi Lights and the NYSO DKG website
To review applications and select recipient(s) of the Award
To present the Award to the recipient(s) at a NYSO Spring Meeting, Convention or Area Conference as guest(s) of NYSO DKG
To publicize the recipient(s) in Pi Lights and on the State website as well as in the recipient(s)’ local area(s)
Investigate, review, and make recommendations if needed to application criteria and requirements as listed in BYLAWS & Standing Rules for the 2027 Convention
Chair Sharon Patrick
Board of Trustee Committee
2025-2028
Sharon Patrick, Chair (Beta Omega)
2023-2027
Mary Kula (Beta Epsilon)
2025-2027
Heather Ferguson (Gamma Epsilon)
2025-2030
Amy McCann (Alpha Zeta)
Sharon Tallman (Chi)
Dr. Anna Marie Bonafide (Alpha Nu) NYSO President, Ex-Officio
Verna Mulholland Friend of Education Award Board of Trustees
Verna Mulholland Friend of Education Award Board of Trustees
The Verna Mulholland Friend of Education Award Board of Trustees is part of the Committees Subject to Endowments. The Committee is charged with seeking, reviewing and recommending a nominee for this Award on an annual basis.
The Committee was established in 1982 in memory of Verna Mulholland, Past President of Alpha Phi and Past Pi State President. In 1982, she and Gladys Mersereau were planning the State Convention to be held in Lake Placid at a future date when they were both killed in a car accident. She envisioned giving an award to someone who made an outstanding contribution to education but wasn't eligible for membership. She hoped the publicity that would come from giving this award to a well-known person would increase the visibility of DKG.
Early Award winners included Beverly Sills and the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.
The Verna Mulholland Friend of Education Award is a plaque celebrating the recipient’s contribution to improving educational opportunities of others and to promoting quality education. There is a stipend along with the Award not to exceed $300 to cover the recipient’s costs incurred in participating in the Award ceremony. The interest from the Fund’s base of five thousand dollars ($5000) is used for the monetary stipend. The Fund is maintained by voluntary contributions. The Award is presented at the spring NYSO Executive Board Meeting/Seminar or the NYSO Convention.
The nominee for this Award shall be a woman from New York State who is NOT a member of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and is not eligible for membership in the Society, but rather someone outside the profession who has worked significantly toward improving the educational opportunities of others and who has given outstanding service to promoting quality education.
Nominees for this Award may be submitted for consideration to the Board of Trustees by any Chapter or member of NYSO based on State Standing Rules. Nominations of women who do not receive the Award are kept for consideration the next year. The Nomination Application must be mailed to the Chair of the Board of Trustees no later than February 15th. The Nomination Application must include a narrative, not to exceed 300 words, that states the following:
1. Significant past and present contributions of the nominee to education, including:
a. length and type of service given
b. importance to those served
c. specific results of any program(s) developed
2. Nominee's current influence on or involvement in this educational opportunity. Chapters are encouraged to nominate deserving women for this Award and to send the nomination application to the Verna Mulholland Friend of Education Award Chair by February 15th.
For further information contact the Chair of the Verna Mulholland Friend of Education Award Board of Trustees.
Goals of the Verna Mulholland Friend of Education Award Board of Trustees Committee:
Advertise the Award and present criteria and guidelines by calling for nomination(s) via Pi Lights, NYSO website and emails
Recommend a deserving recipient from the nomination applications received
Present Verna Mulholland Friend of Education Award at the NYSO Spring Awards Luncheon or Convention Awards Brunch
Send the nominee’s name, her picture and summary biography to State Editor for announcement in Pi Lights, State Webmaster for website and Awards programs
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