Awards

Dorothy and Eugene T. Butler Human Rights Award - Deadline 5 PM on July 31, 2023

This award is presented each year by the Commission to a person(s) who has contributed to advancing the cause of human rights. The Dorothy and Eugene T. Butler Human Rights Award is named after the Butlers in recognition of their lifelong advocacy in human rights issues on the local, regional and national levels. The annual award recognizes significant volunteer efforts on behalf of human rights. 

2023 Butler Human Rights Award Press Release (PDF)
Nomination Form - Butler Human Rights Award (PDF)


2022 Recipient  

2022 Butler Award Winner - Tom and Jeanne Manzer

Previous Recipients

Youth Award - Deadline 5 PM on July 31, 2023

The Youth Award is presented by the Commission to an individual or a group of local youth who promote and/or contribute to human rights in the Brookings area and abroad. Activities the Commission is aware of that would be worthy of the Youth Award consideration include, but are not limited to:

  • Collecting money for an organization or cause related to human rights
  • Organizing an activity related to human rights
  • Collecting food, clothing or personal hygiene items for local or national organizations

Since the Human Rights Commission hopes to recognize the creativity and uniqueness of our youth, we ask that students not be nominated for participation in class activities or pre-organized events. However, an additional activity that comes as a result of a class activity or pre-organized event would be a welcome nomination. To keep the award timely, we also ask nominations be limited to events that have occurred since June 2022. If you are nominating youth for participation in connection with a service agency, a letter on agency letterhead, dated and signed by the director, must accompany the nomination form.

Youth Ally Award - Deadline 5 PM on July 31, 2023

The Youth Ally Award recognizes an adult who has inspired local youth to become involved in human rights activities and initiatives, either locally or abroad. Some examples are serving as a mentor or providing financial support to a youth human rights project. The Youth Ally Award is an award for which someone in the community nominates an adult for special recognition.

Information for both the Youth Award and the Youth Ally Award

These awards are an excellent opportunity to showcase our youth along with their allies. We do not want to see nominees who we are unable to be recognized due to no fault of their own. In reviewing the nomination form, please note two important things:

  • Parent and/or guardian contact information is required for all Youth Awards. The Commission must notify both the youth and their parent/guardian. Nominations that do not supply this information will be considered incomplete and sent back to the nominator as such.
  • Late applications will not be accepted. Nominations received after the deadline will be considered for the following year's awards.

All nominations will be considered and reviewed by the Brookings Human Rights Commission. When the selections have been made, the Commission will notify the recipients and the public. 

2023 Youth and Youth Ally Award Press Release (PDF)
Nomination Form - Youth Award (PDF)
Nomination Form - Youth Ally Award (PDF)

Previous Recipients