Celebrating Outstanding Applications of the Science of the Positive
We created The Montana Institute Awards—affectionately known as the “Normies”—to honor and elevate your innovative, creative efforts to promote health and grow positive norms using the Science of the Positive. We plan to celebrate a wide array of exceptional people and efforts that have helped promote health, impact positive norms, and drive positive community transformation.
We encourage you to submit your own materials or to nominate the efforts of another person or group. Awards will be granted in multiple categories, depending upon the submissions received. Recipients will be announced during the 2025 Montana Summer Institute.
Why submit for a Normie?
Category winners will receive two streaming registrations to the Montana Summer Institute.
Each year’s overall winner will receive one in person and three streaming registrations to the Montana Summer Institute.
All Normie recipients will receive digital and printed award certificates, recognition of their submission on The Montana Institute’s website and social channels, an awards logo for marketing and promotional purposes, and an awards packet with sample media materials to help promote recognition of the award.
Submission Timeline: Submissions are now open for the 2025 Normies. Submissions will be accepted through January 24, 2025.
Eligible Materials: You may submit print, social media, television ads, radio spots, websites and web-based media, or information about events, live interventions, and individual leaders and changemakers. The Normies are not graphic design awards, though we may recognize materials that have a stellar look. Eligible activities will be any that were released or took place between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.
Subject Categories: Normies will be granted in multiple categories. The exact categories will depend upon the submissions received. Categories may be based upon effort topic, audience of focus, type of media, or other key element. The list below includes just some of the subject areas we hope will be reflected in the submissions. If your work is focused on transforming community health, please submit!
Substance Use
Mental Health
Environment
Social Justice/Health Equity
LGBTQIA Acceptance
Bullying, School Climate, or other school-related issue
University/Higher Education
Military/SMVF audiences
Parenting/Early Childhood
Languages: We welcome submissions in all languages.
Fees: $95 per submission. We are waiving submission fees for the Normies inaugural year!