5. How
do I request a refund?
Due to the nature of the program and the judging process, refunds
will not be given. Please carefully review all AEP
criteria and guidelines before submitting an entry.
6. I am not from
the U.S. Can I still enter the AEP awards program?
Yes. We accept entries from all countries; however, we only
accept English language materials or foreign language learning
tools for English speakers. (Teacher instructions must be in
English.)
7. How many entry samples should
I send?
Everything except online entries, e.g., websites, requires THREE copies
of each product. Also, please include a product statement with
each entry that lists the intended audience, product goals and
objectives, or any other information you think that a judge
can use to best evaluate your product.
8. When must the product have
been published?
Your entry must have a published date of January 1-December
31, 2009, excluding websites, which must be active during the
judging period from January until April 2010.
9. Can I enter the same product
in more than one category?
Absolutely. The more categories you enter, the better chance
you have to win. And you can win in more than one category as
well. Just be sure that your product fits into all entered categories
and that a separate set of product samples is sent for each
category entered.
10. Can I
click ahead on the entry form to see what additional information
you will be requesting?
No. The information you provide in the online entry form is
submitted in real time. When you click ahead, you are basically
creating a false entry, so please, try to avoid doing this.
A few components that may need to be prepared in advance of
submitting an entry are as follows: for any categories with
a web component, you will need to submit the exact web URL,
username, and password; and for Golden Lamp entries, a product
statement (not mission statement) is required. If you have any
questions about the information we will be requesting, please
call our awards hotline at 302-295-8346, or email awards@AEPweb.org.
11. Why should
I enter both the Distinguished Achievement Awards and the
Golden Lamps? What is the difference between the two programs?
The Distinguished Achievement Awards are different from
the Golden Lamp Awards in that they are judged solely
against entries of the same type (i.e. children’s news story, young adult
sponsored publications, etc.). Golden Lamp Award entries, on
the other hand, are judged against all audiences and types of
their given category (# Curriculum, Periodicals, Professional
Development, Technology Innovations). Thus only four Golden
Lamps will be awarded and the winners are referred to as the "best
of the best." Companies enter the Distinguished Achievement
Awards because they want their products to be judged against
specific criteria and enter the Golden Lamps because they believe
they have the best Instructional Material, Book, Periodical,
or Technology product overall. Many companies choose to enter
both the Golden Lamps and the Distinguished Achievement Awards.
12. If I want to enter the
Distinguished Achievement and Golden Lamp awards, do separate
entry fees apply for each?
Yes. Every category entered should be regarded as a separate
entry with a separate entry fee. A separate set of product samples
will also need to be sent for each category entered as different
judges will be viewing your product at the same time.
13. Will the
product samples I send be returned after the judging process
is complete?
No. All products entered into our awards program become property
of AEP. Any products of use to schools will be donated.
14. If a software
title has won a previous award, is the upgrade or latest version
eligible for entry?
Yes, upgrades or new versions of software or technology products
from the previous year are eligible for the 2010 awards program.
15. Are winners selected
by peer-voting?
No. What makes winning an AEP award especially prestigious is
the two-tier judging process that is used. Entries are first
reviewed by screening judges, who narrow the field followed
by the final judging certifying committee who review and certify
finalists and winners in all categories. Judges are selected
from a pool of educational publishing professionals (writers,
editors, designers, educators, product developers, and marketing
directors), who have themselves received accolades for their
work.
16. Can I enter AEP’s
awards programs even if I’m not a member?
Although AEP members receive discounted entry fees, anyone producing
quality educational materials is encouraged to enter. In fact,
each year about one-tenth of our entries come from non-members.
17. If I win, is there
a logo I can display on my website or on my product?
Both winners and finalists are encouraged to display the AEP
Awards seal in as many places as possible to promote their achievement.
Just after the winners are announced, they automatically receive
a digital image of the seal from AEP headquarters. The logo
is dated, so you may use it over and over again on the winning
entry.
18. When do you announce
the finalists and winners?
All finalists are notified by mail and email
in April. Included in the finalists’ mailing is information about the awards
ceremonies, a request for digital, high-resolution image of
your entry (if you did not submit this during the entry process),
and a form for you to designate which local media outlets should
receive a press release. All Distinguished Achievement and Golden
Lamp Award winners are announced on at the AEP Awards Banquet & Gala
in June of 2010. Beacon Award winners are announced during a
luncheon ceremony, also in June. A press release along with
recognition on our website and in our newsletter AEP Online follows.
19. Where can I find
a list of previous award winners?
Go to http://www.AEPweb.org/awards/winners.htm for
a complete list of winners from 2009 and go to http://www.AEPweb.org/awards/prevwin.htm for
a list of previous winners.
20. How can I receive information,
including entry forms, about awards programs?
Please contact AEP if
you are interested in receiving information about the upcoming
awards.
21. Will
I receive confirmation of my entries?
Due to the volume of entries we receive, we cannot send confirmations
for individual submissions. AEP will contact you of your entry
is incomplete (e.g., we did not receive the product, payment,
etc.)
22.
I'm having trouble accessing the online entry form, or the online
entry form is working slowly. What should I do?
The traffic on our website is probably slow due to a large number
of people trying to enter the awards at the same time. Our busiest
times are usually after 12 p.m. EST. We suggest that you try
submitting your entry either earlier in the morning (if you
are on Eastern or Central time) or later in the work day (if
you are on Mountain or Pacific time). If you are still having
difficulties, please contact AEP at 302-295-8350.
23.
Where can I get more information on the AEP Awards?
For complete information on the AEP Awards, you can
call the Awards hotline at 302-295-8346.
