Eric Collins Memorial Award

Updated information for 2023! 

PFLAG Franklin-Hampshire Chapter presents our annual

Eric Collins Memorial Award 

to two senior-age high school students  

- one from Franklin County and one from Hampshire County - 

in the newly-increased amount of $500 each!

If you would like to contribute to this award fund, please, click here. 

2023 Eric Collins Memorial Award FAQ's

Who is eligible?

The Eric Collins Memorial Award nominees are those high school senior-age youth who are from Franklin County or from Hampshire County and have contributed to the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, etc.) community and their allies, through advocacy, support and/or education. The award is open to eligible high school senior-age youth regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.  

How are nominations made?

We invite Guidance Counselors, GSA Advisors, community members and people who serve the LGBTQIA+ youth population to nominate any youth who fits the criteria above.

The nomination form can be requested by emailing fhcPFLAG@gmail.com. The nomination deadline for the 2023 Award is May 12, 2023.

How and when will award recipients be notified?

There will be two award winners: One from Franklin County and one from Hampshire County, and each of these 2 award winners will receive $500.  Award winners will be selected by our chapter's Leadership Board by May 19, 2023 and will be notified by May 22 via the contact information provided in the nomination form.  Awards will be distributed shortly thereafter. 

What is the background for the Eric Collins Memorial Award?

PFLAG Franklin-Hampshire Chapter's Eric Collins Memorial Award was established in 2014 to memorialize Eric Collins, a 15-year old student at an area middle school, who passed away in 2013. Eric's commitment to hard work in everything he did manifested in his volunteering, activism, and contributions to better his community. His efforts included working to change his school's climate to be more accepting of LGBTQIA+ students, and being an active member of Gen Q, a group which works to support and improve the lives of LGBTQIA+ youth in Western MA. 

It is in this spirit that our chapter offers this award to memorialize Eric Collins and to recognize our young LGBTQIA+ people who work to advance equality for their peers in the Pioneer Valley. 

The Award provides an important positive statement of visibility and acknowledgment to our marginalized queer and trans youth, recognizing their contributions and celebrating their accomplishments in their schools and communities.  

In 2023, our chapter is proud to announce that we have received donations to this award, allowing us to double the award size from it's original amount of $250 per recipient, to $500 per recipient!

If you would like to contribute to this award fund, click here.