Awards of Merit are given to Individuals, Organizations, Businesses', or Groups who have made a significant contribution to the preservation, protection and promotion of the Santa Fe Trail or the Santa Fe Trail Association. Past awards have been made for books published on the Santa Fe Trail, significant articles of new information published on the Trail, publicity efforts of a newspaper and a television station, the preservation of SFT sites, organization of special events, significant chapter projects, etc.
Recipients:
- 1986: Paul Bentrup; Amelia Betts; Greg Franzwa; Ralph Hathaway; Katharine Kelley; Earl Monger; Alta Page; and William Wheatley
- 1987: Isabel Campbell; Grace Collier; Polly Fowler; Leo & Mary Gamble; Roe Groom, OCTA; Jack Rittenhouse; and The Santa Fe New Mexican
- 1989: Boggsville Restoration Committee; Robert Button; Jean Hamilton; David Hutchison; KCTV, Kansas City, Missouri; and Martin Kim
- 1991: Barton Barbour; Fern Bessire; Cobblestone History Magazine; Marian Meyer; Lou & Topper Schumacher; Dan & Carol Sharp; and John Warner
- 1993: Sam & Carrie Arnold; Friends of Arrow Rock; Jane Mallinson; Harry C. Myers; Mike Olsen; and Dave Webb
- 1995: Bill Chalfant; Mary Jean Cook; John & Mona Crump; Heart of the Flint Hills Chapter of the SFTA; Kinsley, KS, Boy Scouts; Lewis, KS, Boy Scouts; Susan McConnell & the Albuquerque 4th Grade; the National Frontier Trails Center; Leo E. Oliva; and Deanne Wright
- 1997: Don Berg; Susan Calafante Boyle; Anna Belle Cartwright; Willard Chilcott; Cimarron County Historical Society; Jane Elder; Yvonne McIntosh; VanAnn Moore; David Sandoval; Margaret Sears; David Weber; and Norma Gene Young
- 1999: Don & Doris Cress; Mark L. Gardner; The Kansas City Schools Trails Project; Kansas State Historical Society; Marc Simmons; Larry Mix; and Bonita Oliva
- 2001: Anna Belle Cartwright; the Corazon de los Caminos Chapter of the SFTA; H. Denny Davis; Hal Jackson; Lee & Dorothy Kroh; LeRoy & Elsie LeDoux; Nancy Robertson; John Schumacher; Marc Simmons; and Stephen & Mary Whitmore
- 2003: John Atkinson; Helen Brown; Stephen Hyslop; Kansas City Area Historic Trails Association; Kaw Mission State Historic Site, Council Grove, KS; the Missouri River Outfitters Chapter of the SFTA; the National Park Service-Intermountain Region, Branch of Long Distance Trails; and Pam Najdowski
- 2005: Jon Bauman; the Cottonwood Crossing Chapter of the SFTA; Annette Gray; Jere Krakow; Phyllis Morgan; Walter & Teresa Pickett; the Quivira Chapter of the SFTA; "The Walking Group" consisting of Inez Ross, Phyllis Morgan, Judith Janay, Carolyn Robinson, and Jennifer Reglien Romero
- 2007: The Bent's Fort Chapter of the SFTA; the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter of the SFTA; Mary Peace Finley; John Conoboy; Hal Jackson; the Kansas State Historical Society; and the Pikes Peak Library District
- 2009: Dr. Sandra Doe; the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter of the SFTA; Arrow Rock State Historic Site, Friends of Arrow Rock; Steve Schmidt; Fort Larned Nat'l. Historic Site; Steve Glassman; And Janet Armstead
- 2010: Kansas Daughters of the American Revolution; Bent's Fort Chapter of the SFTA; Cimarron Heritage Center Museum, Boise City, OK and Morton County History Museum, Elkhart, KS
- 2011: Dodge City/Fort Dodge/Cimarron Chapter of the SFTA; Marion County Kansas Board of County Commissioners; Gary Lenderman; and Ron Kil
- 2012: Fort Union National Monument; Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site; Coronado Quivira Museum (Lyons, Kansas); Kansas Heritage Center (Dodge City, Kansas)
- 2013: Hal Jackson; William Unrau; the Haskell County Historical Society; and the Wagon Bed Spring Chapter of SFTA
- 2014: The La Junta Colorado Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution; the Dodge City/Fort Dodge/Cimarron Chapter SFTA; the Santa Fe Trail Center (Fort Larned Historical Society); Mike Olsen; and the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter of the SFTA
- 2015: Larry Short; Britt Colle; Marion Lowe; Dr. Marc Simmons; Pam Najdowski; the End of the Trail Chapter of the SFTA; and the La Fonda Hotel
- 2016: Derby Boy Scout Troop 683, Derby, KS; Rod Podszus; and Dotti Russell
- 2017: Bill Downes; Steve Kidwell; Lou Austin; and the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm
- 2018: Patricia Gutiérrez
- 2019: Janet Armstead; Chris Day; and Marcia Fox
- 2020: Larry Short and Kenton Thomas
- 2021: Bent’s Fort Chapter; Symphony in the Flint Hills; The Daughters of the American Revolution; Dave Kendall & Prairie Hollow Productions; Christina Hayes, Great Bend CVB; Jackie Fleming; and the Douglas County Chapter
- 2022-2023: Missouri River Outfitters Chapter, Jody Risley, Doug Holdread, J.R, & Laura Thompson, and Rebecca Goodwin
The Paul F. Bentrup Ambassador Awards are presented to individuals who are currently members in good standing of the SFTA and have been clearly identified with promotion of the Santa Fe Trail Association, development and dissemination of knowledge of Trail history, preservation of Trail related ruts, artifacts, or historical sites, or which otherwise promote the knowledge and understanding of the Santa Fe Trail in the history of the United States.
Recipients:
- 1987: Paul Bentrup and Les Vilda
- 1989: Ralph Hathaway and Katharine Kelley
- 1991: David Clapsaddle
- 1993: Jesse Scott
- 1995: Harry C. Myers
- 1997: Mark L. Gardner and Patricia Heath
- 1999: Virginia Fisher and Helen & Charles Judd
- 2001: Ross Marshall and Jane Mallinson
- 2003: Margaret Sears and Jeff Trotman
- 2005: Hal Jackson and Joy Poole
- 2007: Richard Louden, Faye Gaines, Marcia Fox and Chris Day
- 2009: Ruth Olson Peters and John Atkinson
- 2010: Steve Schmidt
- 2011: Dr. Michael Olsen and Joanne VanCoevern
- 2012: Linda Colle
- 2013: Rod Podszus
- 2014: Bill Bunyan
- 2015: Greg VanCoevern
- 2016: John Carson and Pat Palmer
- 2017: Dr. Jere Krakow and LaDonna Hutton
- 2018: Ken and Shirley McClintock
- 2019: Carolyn Kern
- 2020: Janet Armstead
- 2021: Rich Lawson
- 2022-2023: Roger Boyd
The Jack D. Rittenhouse Memorial Stagecoach Award is presented to individuals who are currently members in good standing of the SFTA and have made extraordinary achievements and lifetime contributions to the Santa Fe Trail, including lifetime achievement in research and writing about the history of the Santa Fe Trail.
Recipients:
- 1993: Leo & Bonita Oliva
- 1995: Polly Fowler
- 1997: Harry C. Myers
- 1999: Gregory Franzwa
- 2001: Samuel P. Arnold
- 2003: Mike Olsen
- 2005: Katharine B. Kelley
- 2007: Dr. David K. Clapsaddle
- 2009: Hal Jackson
- 2011: Roberta Bonnewitz
- 2013: Mary Jean Cook
- 2015: Phyllis S. Morgan
- 2017: Steve Schmidt
- 2019: Doyle Daves
- 2021: Marc Simmons
- 2022-2023: Joy Poole
The Pete & Faye Gaines Memorial Heritage Preservation Award is presented to landowners, former landowners, leaseholders, or tenants of Santa Fe Trail ruts, remnants, structures, or sites who have preserved and protected significant portions of the Santa Fe Trail and provided for public access.
Recipients:
- 1997: Pete & Faye Gaines and Ralph Hathaway
- 1999: William Mock and Dan & Carol Sharp
- 2001: David Clapsaddle, Robert Rein, Mildon Yaeger and The Fort Larned Old Guard
- 2003: Colorado Interstate Gas Co. and Ralph Hathaway
- 2005: Wilmer & Hazel Ekholm and the Fred & Virginia Shields Family
- 2007: Rich & Debbie Lawson
- 2009: Steve & Glenda Schmidt, McPherson, KS
- 2010: Mary & Kerth Lundell, Santa Fe, NM
- 2011: Scully Partners (Doug Sharp Manager), and Blackjack Battlefield and Nature Park;
- 2013: The Joe Swanson Family, Rice County, KS
- 2015: Carolyn & Ed Kern, Rice County, KS, Friends of the Rice-Tremonti Home Association, Raytown, The Cave Spring Association, Kansas City, MO, The Historic Preservation Corporation, Ken and Shirley McClintock, Council Grove, KS
- 2017: Central Plains Cement Company, Independence, MO
- 2021: Della Orton
- 2022-2023: Kearney County, KS Lakin Pride
The Ralph Hathaway Memorial Heritage Preservation Award is presented to landowners, former landowners, leaseholders, or tenants of Santa Fe Trail ruts, remnants, structures, or sites who have preserved and protected significant portions of the Santa Fe Trail and provided for public access.
Recipients:
- 2010: Mary & Kerth Lundell, Santa Fe, NM
- 2012: Express UU Bar Ranch, Cimarron, NM
- 2014: Steve & Jodene Fisher, owners of the property containing the Fry Ruts
- 2016: Connie and Don Essington, Council Grove, KS
- 2018: Steve Peter
- 2020: City of Olathe, KS
- 2021: The Dan and Carol Sharp Family; and Douglas County, KS
- 2022-2023: Kearney County, KS Lakin Pride
Educator Awards are given to teachers or educators who have created an outstanding teaching unit about the Santa Fe Trail.
Recipients:
- 1997: Janice Klein
- 1999: Chris Day, Marcia Fox and Jeri J. Zimmerman
- 2001: Janet Armstead
- 2003: None given
- 2005: Janice Swenson
- 2007: Jody Schneider and Donna Goehring
- 2009: Joyce Thierer, Sister Eleanor Craig, Sisters of Loretto and Wendy Willi
- 2011: Jody Lubbers and Lynley Remy
- 2013: Charla Adcock and Nate McAlister
- 2015: Dr. Joyce Thierer
- 2018: Lea Harding and Tammy Ridennoure
- 2021: Troy Mayhew
- 2022-2023: Katie Buhler, Claudie Thompson, Lee Wilson, and Jennae Segura Brown
The Marc Simmons Writing Award is awarded to contributors to Wagon Tracks for best original article about the history of the SFT based on research in primary sources or for best edited work of a previously unpublished source on the SFT.
Recipients:
- 1999:Craig Crease, Mike Olsen, and Frank Wimberly
- 2001: Stephen Blair, Bonita Oliva, and Beverly C. Ryan
- 2003: Mary Jean Cook and Alma Gregory
- 2005: Phyllis Morgan
- 2007: Harry C. Myers and Michael Olsen
- 2009:Craig Crease and Amy L. Sanderson
- 2010: Priscilla S. Guteirrez
- 2011:Doyle Daves
- 2012: Phyllis S. Morgan
- 2013: Noel Ary
- 2014: Doyles Daves
- 2015: Craig Crease and Dr. James A. Hanson
- 2016: Deborah Lawrence and Joanne VanCoevern
- 2017: Joy Poole
- 2018: Craig Crease
- 2019: Christopher Alan Gordon
- 2020: Dr. Susan Calafate Boyle
- 2022: Dr. Sandra Doe
- 2023: Matthew Saionz
The Scholarship Award is available for students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs at any college or university throughout the United States and whose research paper on the Santa Fe Trail has been judged as the best. Student's papers may be either undergraduate or graduate and must be submitted by the student's professor in whose class the paper was written. Awards will only be made if worthy material is submitted. The recipient will be invited to present his or her paper at the SFTA symposium.
Recipients:
- 1999: Marcus Gottschalk
- 2001: Marcus Gottschalk and Terry Ortega
- 2005: Emily Kieta
The Gregory M. Franzwa Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement was created by action of the SFTA Board on April 18, 2009, to honor his memory and will be presented in even years at Rendezvous, beginning in 2010. This award is for a SFTA member for extraordinary lifetime achievement in preservation, protection and promotion of the historic Santa Fe Trail.
Recipients:
- 2010: Faye Gaines
- 2012: David K. Clapsaddle
- 2014: Michael Olsen
- 2016: Hal Jackson
- 2018: Ross Marshall
- 2020: Dr. Leo E. Oliva
The Louise Barry Writing Award was created by action of the SFTA Board on April 18, 2009. This award is to honor the late author of The Beginning of the West and will be presented in even-numbered years at Rendezvous, beginning in 2010. The award is for a publication of a major book or article based on research about the Santa Fe Trail. The recipient need not be a member of SFTA.
Recipients:
- 2010: William Y. Chalfant
- 2012: Ron Dulle
- 2014: Ronald D. Parks
- 2016: Phyllis S. Morgan
- 2017: Joy Poole
- 2021: David C. Beyreis
The David Clapsaddle Memorial Chapter Award was created to honor Santa Fe Trail Association Chapters, or individuals or groups within a Chapter who have done outstanding work or provided outstanding leadership in a chapter.
Recipients:
- 2018: Duane Johnson
- 2019: The Dodge City/Fort Dodge/Cimarron Chapter
- 2020: Bill Bunyan
- 2021: Diane Miller
- 2022: Linda and Britt Colle
- 2023: Charlie Hutton
Special Recognition Awards are given from the Santa Fe Trail Association for contributions that do not fit in other categories, but are nonetheless befitting of recognition.
Recipients:
- 1995: Steve Linderer and Bill Pitts, for service as Symposium Chairs
- 1997: Ruth Olson Peters, for service as SFTA Treasurer
- 2011: Leo Oliva, for his 25 years of service to SFTA as editor of Wagon Tracks
- 2013: Roger Slusher, for his service as SFTA President
- 2015: National Park Service-National Trails Intermountain Region, in recognition of partnership
- 2017: Ross Marshall, for his 20 years of service as the SFTA representative for the Partnership for the National Trails
- 2021: Michael Martin Murphey for serving as the Honorary Chair of the Santa Fe Trail 200th and for the Promotion and Preservation of the Historical Legacy associated with the Santa Fe National Historic Trail
- 2022: Linda Revello
- 2023: Ruth Olson Peters