Convention Flower Show Special Award Sponsorships
This is the listing of division, section and special awards that will be distributed at the 2026 Convention in Chicago, Illinois. Division, section or special awards that do not have a sponsor are available for sponsorship. In addition to these awards, over 80 class awards are also available, assigned at the discretion of the Awards Chairperson. You may sponsor an award online or by mailing the award sponsorship form to the Awards Chairperson. If you are interested in endowing an award or sponsoring a recurring award, contact the Awards Chairperson.
Available awards in green.
Division Awards (various sponsorship rates; see previous page)
Best in Horticulture – a recurring award sponsored by the Long Island Gesneriad Society
Runner up to Best in Horticulture – a recurring award sponsored by the Greater New York Gesneriad Society
Best in Artistic
Runner up to Best in Artistic
Best in Arts
Runner up to Best in Arts
Best in Commercial/Educational
Sweepstakes (various sponsorship rates; see previous page)
Sweepstakes in Horticulture – a recurring award sponsored by the New England Gesneriad Society
Runner up to Sweepstakes in Horticulture
Sweepstakes in Artistic
Runner-up to Sweepstakes in Artistic – sponsored by Barb Borleske
Sweepstakes in the Arts – sponsored by Jim Vlasic
Multi-Division Sweepstakes – a recurring award sponsored by Jeanne Katzenstein
Section Awards ($45 per award)
Best in Section A (Tuberous) – a recurring award sponsored by Molly Schneider
Best in Section B (Rhizomatous) – sponsored by Laura Buckner
Best in Section C (Fibrous) – sponsored by Vicki Ferguson
Best in Section D (Old World Gesneriads in Flower) – sponsored by Ginny Heatter
Best in Section E (Gesneriads Grown for Ornamental Qualities) – sponsored by David and Colleen Turley
Best in Section F (New Gesneriads) – sponsored by Margaret Califano
Best in Section G (Lesser-Known Gesneriads)
Best in Section H (Trained or Sculptured Gesneriads) – sponsored by the Tampa Bay Gesneriad Society
Best in Section I (Gesneriads Grown by a Novice)
Best in Section J (Collection of Gesneriads)
Best in Section K (Arrangements of Fresh-cut, Dried and/or Growing Gesneriad Material)
Best in Section L (Designs of Fresh-Cut Gesneriad Material)
Best in Section M (Designs of Growing Gesneriad Material)
Best in Section N (Container Plantings)
Best in Section O (Artistic Entry by a Novice) – sponsored by the Wisconsin Gesneriad Society
Best in Section P (Photography) – an endowed award sponsored by the Crisafulli Family
Best in Section Q (Arts and Crafts) – a recurring award sponsored by the Tennessee Gesneriad Society
Best in Section R (Educational)
Best in Section S (Commercial) – sponsored by Margaret Califano
Special Awards ($30 per award)
Best Gesneriad Grown by a non-Member – a recurring award sponsored by Paulo Castello da Costa
Best Gesneriad Grown by a First-Time Convention Exhibitor – sponsored by Kathy Spissman
Best Gesneriad Exhibiting Fruit – an endowed award sponsored by the African Violet and Gesneriad Society of New Jersey
Best New Cultivar – sponsored by Jim Vlasic
Best New Species – a recurring award sponsored by the African Violet and Gesneriad Society of New Jersey
Best Recently Registered Cultivar – a recurring award sponsored by the Gesneriad Hybridizers Association
Best Scented Gesneriad – sponsored by Erika Geimonen
Best Taiwan Cultivar – a recurring award sponsored by James Dean Parise
Best Achimenes – MaryJo Evers
Best Columnea – sponsored by Linda Hall
Best Drymonia
Best Episcia – sponsored by Laura Buckner
Best Gesneria – sponsored by Ray Coyle
Best Kohleria – sponsored by the Minnesota Gesneriad Society
Best Nematanthus Species
Best Petrocosmea – a recurring award sponsored by the New England Gesneriad Society
Best Primulina – sponsored by Winston Goretsky
Best Saintpaulia species – sponsored by Karyn Cichocki
Best Saintpaulia cultivar – sponsored by Margaret Califano
Best Sinningia – sponsored by Levin Tilghman
Best Streptocarpus – sponsored by Terri Vicenzi
Best Brandon Erikson Cultivar – sponsored by Levin Tilghman
Best Dale Martens Cultivar – sponsored by Brandon Erikson
Best Gunilla Svensson (Ni’s) Cultivar
Best Hung Chia-Yu (HCY’s) Cultivar – sponsored by Lan Wu
Best Iain James (Peridots) Cultivar – sponsored by Conrad Leighton
Best Jim Vlasic (JV) Cultivar – sponsored by Mel Grice
Best Margery Anderson-Clive Cultivar – sponsored by Margery Anderson-Clive
Best Peter Shalit Cultivar
Best Serge Saliba (SRG) Cultivar – sponsored by Mel Grice
Best Violet Barn (Bristol’s/Ma’s/Rob’s) Cultivar – sponsored by Lan Wu
Best Wu Jui-Jung (Jung’s) Cultivar – sponsored by Lan Wu
Best Jay Sespico Cultivar – sponsored by the Tampa Bay Gesneriad Society
last updated 2/20/2026
