Since 2005 the University of Nebraska's Center for Great Plains Studies has acknowledged outstanding works of nonfiction with its annual book prize.
Starting this year, the prize's name has been changed to the Stubbendieck Great Plains Distinguished Book Prize to acknowledge its founder, Jim Stubbendiek, emeritus professor of grassland ecology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and emeritus director of the Center for Great Plains Studies.
In addition, the prize's cash award has been doubled to $10,000 to coincide with this name change.
"Jim Stubbendieck, cherished as the outstanding director of the center for 14 years, created the prize to celebrate the best in Great Plains scholarship, and he and Cheryl Stubbendieck have been generous supporters of the center; so it is both highly appropriate, and with enormous gratitude to the Stubbendiecks, that the center names the prize for them," said Rick Edwards, center director. "'Won the Stubbendieck' will be a mark of high distinction for any author."
The prize was created to emphasize the interdisciplinary importance of the Great Plains in today's publishing and educational market, and has been awarded to books in many fields. Past winners include works on history, photography, architecture and the environment, including Michael Tate's "Indians and Emigrants," Michael Forsberg's "Great Plains: America's Lingering Wild" and Bernard Flaman's "Architecture of Saskatchewan."
Submissions for the 2015 book prize should be sent to the Center for Great Plains Studies by Jan. 23. Both authors and publishers can submit works. Go to http://www.unl.edu/plains for submission guidelines and more information.
— Katie Nieland, Center for Great Plains Studies