Nominees for the 1997 Perkins Prize for Interracial Understanding and Harmony are now being accepted by the Dean of Students Office at Cornell.

The $5,000 annual prize was established in 1995 by Cornell Trustee Thomas W. Jones to honor the Cornell professor, student, administrator or program making the most significant contribution to furthering the ideal of university community while respecting the values of racial diversity.

This will be the third time the award will be presented. Seth Meinero, event coordinator of the Cornell Political Forum, received the first Perkins Prize for his efforts in developing an annual series of "Civil Rights in America" symposia. In 1996, the prize went to the Festival of Black Gospel for its dedication in strengthening ties between Cornell and the community through an annual weekend of gospel music and worship.

Jones established the James A. Perkins Prize to promote efforts for the advancement of campus interracial understanding and harmony and to honor a past president's "historic decision" to increase the enrollment of minority students during the tumultuous 1960s. Prize money will be used to support activities that promote interracial respect, understanding and harmony on campus.

Jones is president and chief operating officer of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), the world's largest pension fund.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to apply for the award or to nominate applicants. Nomination and application forms are available at the Office of the Dean of Students, 401 Willard Straight Hall (255-6839 or 255-1115). Guidelines for the application process and the nomination and application forms are available through the Perkins Prize Web site at .

Deadline for nominations is Feb. 21 and for completed applications is March 14. The awards ceremony will be held Monday, April 28.