The JNCL-NCLIS
ELEVATE Award
Equitable Language Education Visionary Advocate with Transformative Effect
ABOUT THE AWARD
The ELEVATE (Equitable Language Education Visionary Advocate with Transformative Effect) Award honors successful advocacy that advances access and equity for language and culture learners within and beyond the classroom.
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JNCL-NCLIS recognizes that individuals and teams across the country are doing important work in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with their students, peers, and communities. The ELEVATE Award recognizes those who work to amplify the voices of marginalized communities and languages, cultures, and dialects while raising public awareness about the value of multilingualism and multiculturalism in American society.
2026 Recipient: Sheila Bong
JNCL-NCLIS proudly recognizes Sheila Bong for her lifelong advocacy expanding learning opportunities, assessment, and recognition for Indigenous and less-resourced languages.
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A Blackfeet Tribal member, Sheila has dedicated decades of leadership to strengthening language preservation, access, and educational equity. Through her work with Avant Assessment, the Northwest Indigenous Language Institute, and 7000 Languages, she has helped expand opportunities for thousands of learners to earn academic credit, receive the Seal of Biliteracy, and take pride in their linguistic and cultural identities.
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Her work reflects the mission of the ELEVATE Award—advancing equitable access to language learning while honoring the diversity and power of languages and cultures.
PURPOSE
Nominations for this award document nominee-led collaborative initiatives that cultivate, promote, and foster a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive advocacy voice for languages and cultures. Nominations must provide evidence of the impact and outcomes of these initiatives.
Eligibility
A nominee must:
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Be a member of a JNCL-NCLIS member organization in good financial standing (annual dues paid by September 1).
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Commit to participating in the Language Advocacy Awards presentation during Language Advocacy Days.
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Be nominated in writing by the leadership of a JNCL-NCLIS member organization through the online nomination form.
For the 2026 award, nominees should be from the K–12 level.
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Current JNCL-NCLIS Board members are not eligible for this award.
Selection Criteria
Nominees will be evaluated based on documented contributions in the following areas.
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Advocacy for Access and Equity
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Participation in, promotion of, or leadership of successful advocacy initiatives
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Sharing knowledge and passion for equitable language and culture education through writing, media, or speaking opportunities
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Raising public awareness about language and cultural access
Evidence of Impact
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Empowering marginalized communities, languages, or cultures
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Demonstrating visible impact at the local, regional, or national level
Selection Process
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The nomination period opens mid-July and closes in September.
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The Awards Committee, whose Chair is selected by the President of the Board of Directors, reviews all nominations.
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The committee consists of three Board members (excluding the President) and two JNCL staff members.
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The committee selects finalists, and the Board of Directors selects the final recipient.
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The selection process takes place from September through November.
The Award includes...
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Recipients receive:
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An award plaque and recognition during the Language Advocacy Awards presentation at Language Advocacy Days
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Complimentary registration to Language Advocacy Days
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One night of lodging when the event is held onsite
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A spotlight profile on the JNCL-NCLIS awards webpage
Generous funding for this award comes from our partners at
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Want to sponsor this award?
email info@languagepolicy.org
The Online Nominations Form
Only member organizations of JNCL-NCLIS in good financial standing (paid JNCL-NCLIS annual dues by September 1st) may submit nominations.
The nominator will need to provide the following when submitting your nomination:
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One official letter of recommendation (2 pages max.) from the nominating organization about the nominee. Briefly highlight the challenge(s) faced, the advocacy initiative(s) undertaken and its impact within the context of the award’s purpose.
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The nominee’s most current resume or C.V.;
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(optional) The nominee’s personal statement (2 pages max), detailing his or her personal purpose for advocating for language(s) and how his or her advocacy efforts provoked positives changes and/or inspired others.
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Please note that these documents should be compiled into one file for ease of upload
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Once you submit a nomination, JNCL-NCLIS will email the nominee at the email address you have provided to confirm their participation in the contest. ​
past recipients
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2025 - Haydee Taylor-Arnold, Ladue Horton Watkins High School
2024 - Jill Landes Lee, University of Utah