With support from the WeGOJA Foundation, the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission will be hosting its annual Preserving Our Places in History awards program on Friday, April 9, recognizing outstanding cultural and historic preservation accomplishments in the year 2020.

Categories to be recognized include:

Individual Award – This award recognizes a person who has demonstrate or made outstanding contributions to preserving and interpreting African American history and culture in South Carolina in 2020.

Group or Organization Award – This award recognizes a group or organization that has demonstrated extraordinary preservation or interpretation, or made significant contributions toward such efforts, for African American history and culture in South Carolina during 2020.

Project Award – This award recognizes a project that has significantly influenced in a permanent way the preservation and interpretation of African American history and culture in South Carolina during 2020.

Student Award – This award recognizes a currently enrolled college student who has demonstrated a great interest in, or has completed noteworthy work towards, the preservation of African American history and culture in South Carolina in 2020. Enrollment and study at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) is preferred, but not mandatory.

Legislator of the Year Award – This award recognizes a legislator who has endorsed the preservation of African American history and culture in South Carolina, and / or solicited funding in 2020 through the state legislature for causes, groups or organizations that support the preservation of African American history and culture in South Carolina.

Leon Love Lifetime Achievement Award – Awarded to an individual who has significant levels of achievement and advocacy over the course of his/her career or lifetime toward the preservation and promotion of African American history and culture in South Carolina.

Individuals, groups and organizations can nominate themselves for the awards or be nominated by others who are aware of their work, contributions and achievements in the field.

Nominations must be submitted on the official form, and with all supporting material requested. For more information, contact the WeGOJA Foundation at wegoja2021@gmail.com.