IGGP Awards

IGGP Awards

The IGGP recognizes individuals whose contributions to the field of German genealogy research have been of lasting value. The awards are given during the international conference, starting with the first in 2017.

Award descriptions

  • Ambassador Award recognizes the efforts of an individual or individuals on behalf of our organization, individuals who promote and represent the IGGP on a national and/or international level. 
  • Shirley Riemer Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions over a lifetime to German genealogy.
  • Most Valuable Person to IGGP is the individual who makes the partnership strong and successful over an extended period of time.
  • Excellent Service Award (formerly Excellence in Service award) recognizes a special act or accomplishment for the German genealogy community.
  • Conference Most Valuable Person is someone who ensured that the conference occurred and succeeded. Nominated by IGGP Board and/or conference host.
  • Partnership Award will recognize an outstanding volunteer of a partner organization. Nominated by partner organization or IGGP Board.

2023 Awards

  • Shirley Riemer Lifetime Achievement Award: Larry O. Jensen, who could be considered a founding father in the field of German genealogy research. Among his accomplishments over six decades of contributions are A Genealogical and Demographic Handbook of German Handwriting and A Genealogical Handbook of German Research, literature produced in the 1970s that would lead the field for years to come.
  • Ambassador Award: Amy Chidester, for her efforts in leading the presenter team for the 2023 conference as well as her contributions to earlier conferences.
  • Conference Most Valuable Person Award: Edie Adam, IGGP secretary and chair of the overall conference planning team. The 2023 conference was especially challenging coming out of covid, and IGGP broke new ground in many areas by producing a hybrid conference in which virtual and on-site attendees could participate in real time.
2021 Awards
  • Ambassador Award: Nancy Myers and Georg PalmĂĽller for their dedication and commitment to helping IGGP grow and connect researchers.
  • Shirley Riemer Lifetime Archievement Award(s): Ernest Thode for helping German genealogy researchers through his books, including the the German-English Genealogical Dictionary; and Henry Z. (Hank) Jones for his decades of research and publishing about the “Palatines” who left the Rhineland in the 18th century.
  • Most Valuable Person to IGGP: Edie Adam for her contributions as secretary and newsletter editor, among others.
  • Excellent Service Award(s): Jeff Herbert for his indexing and publishing efforts in original records related to German emigrants to Hamilton County (Ohio); Rosemarie Ingram for her years of helping researchers, in particular with her expertise in the records of German-speakers kept in the archives of Poland; and Hans-Joachim LĂĽnenschloĂź for his contributions to the DAGV, in particular, the DAGV Inquiry Center, which helps researchers around the world.
  • Conference Most Valuable Person: James Beidler, who absolutely refused to let the conference fade away despite the Covid pandemic and who put together a hard-working team that produced an excellent virtual event.
2019 Awards
  • IGGP Ambassador: Kim Ashford for co-founding, promoting and representing the International German Genealogy Partnership on an international level.
  • Shirley Riemer Lifetime Achievement Award: Roger Minert for his significant contributions over his lifetime to the German genealogy community.
2019 Conference Volunteer Awards
  • MVP for “Action-Oriented Leadership” to Rick Hanson.
  • Outstanding Volunteer Leadership to Bonnie Cosgrove.
  • Outstanding Publicity Efforts to Edie Adam.
  • Presenter Team Leader with Boundless Energy to Amy Chidester.
  • Admiral Who Steered the SVEA (Sponsor, Vendor, Exhibitor, Advertiser) Ship to Del Ritchhart.
2017 Awards
  • IGGP Ambassador: Dirk Weissleder for co-founding, promoting and representing the International German Genealogy Partnership on an international level.
  • Lifetime Achievement award (Now the Shirley Riemer Award): Shirley Riemer for her significant contributions over her lifetime to the German genealogy community.
  • Most Valuable Person award to Kent Cutkomp for his service as one of the co-founders of the International German Genealogy Partnership and as co-chair of the first IGGP conference.
  • Excellence in Service award to Marion Rainey and Brad Colman for creating the extremely valuable www.MeyersGaz.org website for the German genealogy community.