Nominations for 2008 Hillary Medal

Mountain Legacy initiated the Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal in 2003 both in order to recognize Sir Edmund’s life-long commitment to the welfare of mountain people and their environment and also to encourage the continuing emulation of his example. Sir Edmund's contributions and the work of the foundations he founded or inspired in New Zealand, Canada, United States and Germany have resulted in the construction of some thirty schools, two airstrips, two hospitals and eleven village clinics as well as a reforestation program in Sagarmatha National Park.

Deadline for Submission

Nominations and supporting material, whether submitted in hardcopy or electronic form, are due by midnight (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) on Friday, February 22, 2008.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Nominees working in remote mountainous regions anywhere in the world will be eligible.
2. As the award is for both cultural and environmental conservation, nominees should be working in inhabited mountain regions that are remote from population centers and most elements of modern infrastructure.
3. One purpose of this award is to draw attention to efforts that are in need of broader support; therefore nominees should be currently engaged in such a project.
4. Nominations of third parties as well as self-nominations will be accepted.
5. Individuals may be awarded only one Hillary Medal.
6. Individuals may be renominated, provided they have not already received a Hillary Medal.

Explanatory notes

• There is no universally accepted definition of mountain. For the purpose of this award, the term will embrace isolated peaks such as Mt. Kilimanjaro, ranges such as the European Alps, and also high plateaus such as the Chang Tang of Tibet. Sea mounts are excluded from consideration except those whose above-water extent and form resembles that of a land-based mountain. In debatable situations, the decision of the Chair of the Selection Committee shall be definitive.
• The Selection Committee recognises that there are fewer and fewer areas that one may consider remote in the same sense as those locales and communities where Sir Edmund Hillary conducted his initial philanthropic work. However, remote in the context of this medal is considered by the Selection Committee to refer to areas where accessibility is a tremendous challenge and that local infrastructure and resources (e.g. financial, qualified practitioners/professionals) are minimal or non-existent.
• Inhabited refers to permanent and/or seasonal settlement of any remote mountain area.
• Organisations as such are not eligible to receive this Medal. However, individuals working within an organisation are eligible.
• Nominators should present the nominee's achievements in an accurate and persuasive fashion. If deemed necessary, the Selection Committee will verify submitted information and seek out additional evidence. Nomination material will not be returned.
• The Hillary Medal Selection Committee is not obliged to award the Medal if the Selection Committee deems that no candidate meets the eligibility criteria and/or that insufficient supporting or verifiable evidence of a nominee’s achievements was provided or otherwise available.
• The Chair of the Selection Committee will notify the nominator by email upon receipt of the nomination. The successful nominee will be notified of the award in late March.
• The Hillary Medal is to be presented to the 2008 recipient at the Tengboche Monastery, Khumbu District, Nepal, on May 29, 2008. The presentation ceremony is to be part of the 55th anniversary celebrations of the first successful ascent of Mt. Everest. It is hoped, but not required, that the 2008 recipient will attend the presentation ceremony. The Chair of the Selection Committee will provide advice with trip planning, but travel expenses are not included in the award.

Nominations should specify pertinent accomplishments of the nominee, as well as documentation and references that will assist the Hillary Medal Selection Committee in identifying and evaluating the impact of the nominee's effeorts.

Contact: Dr Beau B Beza
Chair, Hillary Medal Selection Committee
Environment and Planning Program
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University
E-mail: beza@hillarymedal.org

The Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal is a project of Mountain Legacy and is sponsored by the Environment and Planning Program, The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University.

World Expeditions is proud to be a major sponsor of the Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal. The 2008 Hillary Medal will be presented to the winner on a unique World Expeditions 55th Everest Anniversary Trek in the Himalaya, in May 2008. World Expeditions applauds the good work this Medal represents in supporting and assisting the welfare of mountain people and continuing Sir Edmund Hillary's humanitarian projects.