FFNHA announces new awards, opens 2024 nominations

By Johnny Szlauderbach

NEWS — SEP 3, 2024

Freedom’s Frontier is now accepting nominations for its annual awards luncheon, including its new 3 Theme Awards. Other awards include the Billings Most Valuable Project Award and the Tacha Education Award.

The 3 Theme Awards recognize partners with a nominated exhibit, program, or project specifically highlighting one of FFNHA’s three themes.

The Billings Most Valuable Project Award honors outstanding projects committed to the advancement of FFNHA goals and adherence to FFNHA guiding principles. It is named for Judy Billings, Retired President and CEO of Destination Management, Inc., served as the founding Executive Director of Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) from 2006-2012 and was instrumental in advocating for National Heritage Area designation. 

The Tacha Education Award recognizes students engaging in the issues, ideas, people, and events relating to FFNHA’s themes. It honors Deanell Reece Tacha, Retired Judge with the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, and founding Chair of the Board of Trustees of Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) from 2004-2010.

The November Partner Meeting and Awards Luncheon will be held Nov. 18 at FFNHA’s headquarters in Lawrence, KS. Nominations are open through November 8.

Information and nomination forms can be found at freedomsfrontier.org/awards.

Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) builds awareness of struggles for freedom in western Missouri and eastern Kansas. Established by Congress in 2006, FFNHA covers a unique physical and cultural landscape across 41 counties and 31,000 square miles. It promotes three diverse, interwoven, and nationally significant stories: frontier settlement, the Missouri-Kansas Border War and Civil War, and enduring civil rights disputes. FFNHA inspires respect for multiple perspectives and empowers area residents to preserve and share these stories, achieving its goals through interpretation, preservation, conservation, and education for all residents and visitors. It is one of 62 federally recognized National Heritage Areas across the United States.