It’s time to record your Fellowship medals and Columbine Pin points!
The new form was devised to be intuitive and will prompt you about your involvement in the past year (the Fellowship year typically runs from the day after the PPC Elevate Conference in the past year to the final day of the Elevate Conference in the current year. However, due to the rescheduling of Elevate in 2026 and 2027, the 2026 Fellowship year ran from November 10, 2025 to October 12, 2026). We are now accruing points for 2027’s medals and pins.
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See which events/workshops you attended this past year by logging into your account on the PPC website. Click on the carrot next to your login photo and scroll down to EVENTS. All your past attended and future events are listed. Meeting and workshop details are listed on the Fellowship/Columbine digital form when you select the YES button on the form.
Points for IPC are for photos submitted in 2025 but earned medals at Imaging USA in January 2026. Fellowship points accumulate with you until you reach your Fellowship goals. If you skipped a year or more, that is OK, your points are still there for you. Conversely, Columbine Pin points renew each year.
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Deadline to complete the 2026 Fellowship/Columbine Pin digital form is Saturday, October 31st at 11:59 pm. Late entries will not be considered.
Fellowship medals, XXV bands and Columbine Pins will be presented at the Awards Ceremony, November 7, 2026. You are welcome to email Ellen at ellen@ellennelson.com if you think you are close to earning a medal so you can plan to attend the award ceremony and celebrate your (and everyone’s) achievements.
How To Earn Your Fellowship:
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The point system and degree program are designed to encourage, recognize and reward those who demonstrate outstanding imaging skills and provide service and education to the profession. The program helps affiliate organizations attract program talent and encourages the individual to learn and achieve. Only PPC members will be awarded points, and only specified points can be applied toward a degree.
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In January 1999, the PPC Board of Directors adopted a new degree program. The degree program includes the following: Colorado Service Fellowship of Photography (S.F.) and Colorado Educational Fellowship of Photography (E.F.) and the Colorado Photographic Fellowship of Photography (P.F.). A review committee consisting of Fellowship chairperson(s) current and past Fellowship recipients has been established to review the Degree applications to help with points toward Fellowships.
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Section I: Award Rules and Information/Points
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Service Fellowship of Photography S.F. ……………………..30 Points
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Educational Fellowship of Photography E.F. ………………….30 Points
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Photographic Fellowship of Photography P.F…………………..30 Points
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Gold Bar of Ribbon Service, Educational or Photographic……….25 Points
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Past President’s and Fellowship Degree………………………Ribbon
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Section II: Who is Eligible?
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All paid-up Active, Associate, Student, Sustaining and Honorary Life Members of Professional Photographer’s of Colorado in good standing for thirty-six (36) or more consecutive months prior to making application for the degree.
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Section III: Rules
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Please read and follow these rules exactly. To not do so, may cause loss of Points. If instructions and rules are not followed, the PPC may have no choice but to disallow the Points. All decisions on eligibility for Points will be made by the Fellowship Committee.
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Points are earned in a calendar year and are presented at the Annual Holiday Party. Please turn your points application EVERY year into the Fellowship Chairperson, Ellen Nelson.
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Proof of Service, Educational or Print Merit are on the honor system. If the committee has questions regarding your application, proof may be requested and must be supplied prior to the presentation at the Annual Holiday Party.
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If requested, proof of Service, Education or Print Points can be a copy of a Program, Newsletter, copy of PPA Award Merit, minutes of a Board Meeting, Chairperson’s notes, Print Chairperson’s records or Scores or Awards and Secretary of Treasurer records.
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The Service Fellowship Degree Award requires Thirty (30) Points, with a minimum of twenty (20) Service Points to be earned through service to Professional Photographers of Colorado. The additional ten (10) point awards may be for Educational or Photographic.
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The Educational Fellowship Degree Award requires Thirty (30) Points, with a minimum of twenty (20) Educational Points to be earned through education to the Professional Photographers of Colorado. The additional ten (10) points may be for Service or Photographic.
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The Photographic Fellowship Degree Award requires Thirty (30) Points, with a minimum of twenty (20) Photographic Points to be earned through State print competitions. The additional ten (10) Points may be for Service or Education.
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For those individuals who after receiving either Service, Education, or Photographic Degree Awards, may be awarded a gold Bar to be worn on the neck ribbon for each additional twenty five (25) Service, Educational or Print Points or for those who earned all three degree awards, for any combination of the three totaling twenty five (25) Points.
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The presentation of Fellowship Degree Awards and the Gold Bar Award will be made at this Association’s Annual Holiday Party to those members who earned and have been notified of Award earned.
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All members receiving a Service and/or Educational and/or Photographic Fellowship Degree Medal with ribbon are requested to wear the Award at ALL formal Photographic PPA functions and monthly meetings.
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The Fellowship Committee have the right to change any of the Award Rules with a two thirds (2/3) vote.
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Committee chairman will review a written report of points earned by 15 days prior to Annual Holiday Party.
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Chairperson merits are given with satisfactory completion of service and updating their job assignments in the SOP at the end of each year.
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Your digital form must be returned by October 31 at midnight. Late entries will not be considered.
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How To Earn Your Columbine Pin
PPC is dedicated to serving its members and we recognize our members’ help in serving the organization. This unique pin symbolizes dedication and participation every time it’s displayed on a lanyard. ​
The purpose of the award is to promote member participation, encourage personal growth as a photographer and teacher and to reward simple acts of service that help our events run well.​
The Columbine Pin is given to all PPC members in good standing who have earned 15 or more points in our award season in any given year. The award runs separately from the Fellowship Award but is integrated in the digital Fellowship/Columbine form. Members can earn a Columbine Pin every year by completing the Fellowship/Columbine Pin form found on the website under the MEMBERSHIP tab or the link below. Unlike Fellowship, Columbine Pin points do not carry over from year to year.
The 2026 Fellowship year ran from the day after the 2025 PPC Elevate Conference (November 9, 2025 to the day following the PPC State Competition, October 12, 2026 Members are responsible for keeping track of their points throughout the year.
Your digital form, integrated with the Fellowship form, must be submitted by October 31st at midnight. Late entries will not be considered.​
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