Tau Beta Sigma 
National Awards

Outstanding Service to Music Award 

• This award is presented by the Sorority to a woman who has made a significant contribution to bands through outstanding musicianship, composition, or other means of distinguished service. Nominations are accepted by the National Council at any time before December 1. Nominations should include a letter of nomination, a resume, and letters of recommendation from individuals who know the nominee well. Click here to download nomination form.

Wava Banes Turner Award 

• Each biennium, the Wava Banes Turner Award is presented to one member who has demonstrated outstanding and continued service to Tau Beta Sigma. Nominees for this award must be a life, honorary or alumnae member of Tau Beta Sigma. Nomination forms are available from the National Headquarters and should be submitted by December 1 of the National Convention year. Recipients are selected by a vote of the Board of Trustees, National Council, District Counselors, and District Presidents. National Officers are not eligible for this award until out of office for five years. Click here to download nomination form.

Stanley G. Finck Memorial Award

• This award was created to honor those individuals who exemplify the spirit of joint cooperation that Mr. Finck consistently demonstrated. This award is to be one of the highest honors that someone in either organization can receive. The award will be given only once a biennium per organization. Click here to download nomination form.

Paula Crider Award

• This award was created in 1999 to honor outstanding university band directors who have distinguished themselves in the field of university bands, and who, in addition, have been supportive of Tau Beta Sigma and its ideals. Nomination deadline is December 1. Click here to download nomination form.

Grace and A. Frank Martin Chapter Leadership Award Finalists 

• During each biennium, outstanding chapters are selected by the National Council as Chapter Leadership Award Finalists and presented recognition plaques at the biennial convention. The chapters selected for the award are interviewed by a committee which is responsible for selecting the recipient of the outstanding chapter of the biennium. In order to be eligible for this award, chapters must meet all report and fee deadlines as well as demonstrating excellence within the ideals of the Sorority.

Grace and A. Frank Martin Chapter Leadership Award 

• The Tau Beta Sigma Chapter Leadership Award was first presented at the 1963 National Convention and is designed to honor the outstanding chapter in the nation during the biennium. The recipient chapter is selected by a committee at the convention which carefully screens the chapter leadership finalists. The Award was renamed at the 1999 National Convention.

Service Certificate 

• This award was created to recognize the significant achievement by chapters in providing service to college and university bands. In order to be eligible for this award, chapters must meet all report and fee deadlines. Also, an application detailing service projects must be forwarded to the National Headquarters with supporting recommendations from the Director of Bands or Sponsor. The deadline for this award is December 1 of each year.

Citation of Excellence 

• This special award is made available at no charge to chapters and summer band camp administrators upon request. It is designed to recognize outstanding achievement by band members during summer camp activities and to help create an awareness of the national organizations. To order this award, contact National headquarters.

F. Lee Bowling Musical Excellence Award 

• In 1977 the delegates of the National Convention proposed this award to be presented to outstanding students in high school or junior high school music programs. It is an award for those students who have demonstrated excellence in their respective band program. Dr. F. Lee Bowling was Grand President of Kappa Kappa Psi from 1941 through 1947 during the formation of Tau Beta Sigma. Chapters may order this award at any time using the Supply Order Form.

Johnnie Vinson Award

• This award, created in 2003 and named in honor of its first recipient, honors individuals, regardless of occupation, fraternal affiliation, or gender, who have promoted women in music through the exemplification of the ideals and vision of Tau Beta Sigma. Deadline is December 1. Click here to download nomination form.

Chapter Sponsor Award 

• This award was established by the 1993-1995 National Council in efforts to give chapters a way to recognize sponsors who have shown outstanding service to the Sorority and/or Fraternity. Nominations should be submitted to the National Headquarters by December 1 preceding the convention year. Applications will be reviewed by the National Council and the award will be presented at the district or national convention. Click here to download nomination form.

The Baton

• Awarded to student leaders who have made outstanding contributions to the Sorority. Any active member is eligible. Deadline is December 1. Click here to download nomination form.

“For Greater Bands”

• Awarded to outstanding musicians who have demonstrated excellence in their college band programs.There is no deadline for this award; nominations may be submitted at any time. Click here to download nomination form.

Auxiliary Award

• Awarded to an outstanding visual performer enrolled or actively participating in a music-related group. There is no deadline for this award; nominations may be submitted at any time. Click here to download nomination form.

Academic Achievement Program 

• This program was established by the 1991 National Convention to honor outstanding academic achievement of both individuals and active chapters. Applications should be submitted to the National Headquarters with a copy of a grade report at the end of each academic term. Click here to download application form.

• The Top Chapter Scholar Award is presented to the active member from the chapter with the highest GPA for a given academic term. 
• The Outstanding Scholarship Award is given to active members of the chapter who achieve a 3.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for a particular term. 
• The Chapter Certificate of Excellence is presented to chapters that achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better for a given academic term. This award may be presented at the district convention.