Eric Collins Memorial Award

Updated information for 2026! 

PFLAG Franklin-Hampshire presents our annual

Eric Collins Memorial Award 

to two senior-age high school students throughout Western MA

(Hampshire, Franklin, Hampden and Berkshire Counties)

in the amount of $500 each!

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

2026 Eric Collins Memorial Award FAQ's

Who is eligible?

The Eric Collins Memorial Award nominees are high school senior-age youth from Western MA (Hampshire, Franklin, Hampden and Berkshire Counties) who 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 2026 Award is Wednesday, April 15, 2026. 

How and when will award recipients be notified?

There will be two award winners chosen from all submissions that meet the above criteria. Award winners will receive $500 each.  Award winners will be selected by our chapter's Award Committee (Leadership Board) by May 15, 2026 and will be notified via the contact information provided on the nomination form.  Awards will be distributed shortly thereafter. 

Disclaimer: The Eric Collins Memorial Award is funded, selected and distributed by PFLAG Franklin-Hampshire, independent of all other institutions and organizations, educational or otherwise, and the decision of the Award Committee is final. 

What is the background for the Eric Collins Memorial Award?

PFLAG Franklin-Hampshire's Eric Collins Memorial Award was established in 2014 to memorialize Eric Collins, a 14-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 Western MA.  

The Eric Collins Memorial 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.  Help us lift up our LGBTQIA+ youth!

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