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Nominations sought for Zeisberger Heckewelder Award

/ January 31, 2025

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The Tuscarawas County Historical Society is seeking nominations for its annual Zeisberger Heckewelder Award. The award is given each year to up to four individuals and an organization who exemplify outstanding service to the citizens of Tuscarawas County or have enhanced a better understanding of the history of Tuscarawas County. By doing so, they have made Tuscarawas County a better place to live. Nominees should be people or organizations who have made outstanding contributions to the quality of life or the preservation of history in the area; that have performed services which have benefited the economic, social, moral, and cultural life of the area; or whose endeavors have brought merit to Tuscarawas County. According to the award guidelines, the nominee must be a resident of or be located in Tuscarawas County. Current public officeholders are not eligible.

The Tuscarawas County Historical Society first presented the prestigious award in 1981. Artist and creator Johann Zabka founded this medal to be the “Pulitzer Prize” of Tuscarawas County. The Zeisberger Heckewelder medal is named for Moravian missionaries David Zeisberger and John Heckewelder. The basis of the Award is service to society and the county exemplifying the ideals of Humanity, Peace, God and Love, which are engraved on one side of the medal. The reverse side of the medal carries the Moravian Lamb bearing the crossed flag in the center. On the inner circle is the Latin inscription “Vicit Agnus Noster Eum Sequamur.” This translates to “Our Lamb Has Conquered, Let Us Follow Him.”

Winners for 2025 will be announced in April and the awards presented at the Tuscarawas County Historical Society’s annual Founders Day Banquet in May.

 

Nominations for the Zeisberger Heckewelder Award are being accepted from now until February 1, 2025.

Nominations must be made in writing and include:

· nominee’s name, address, and phone number;

· the nominator’s name, address and phone number;

· a written explanation of why the nominee should be considered for the award;

· a list of any leadership roles the applicant has held in Tuscarawas County

· any supporting documents (newspaper articles, letters of support, etc.) for the nomination.

Nominations can be mailed to the Society at: TCHS; P. O. Box 462; New Philadelphia, OH 44663 or dropped at the Tusc Kent Archives in Founders Hall on the campus of Kent State University Tuscarawas during regular office hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 am to Noon.

For further information about the Zeisberger Heckewelder Award, please contact the Tuscarawas County Historical Society at (330)308-7494 or by email at tuschs@tuschs.org. For a list a previous winners of the award visit our website at www.tuschs.org.