our own" has been adopted as the slogan of the Whitney Awards, and is printed on the trophy. Winners and finalists 2007 - present Committee The Whitney Awards Committee acts as both the organizers and the preliminary judges of the Whitney Awards. Rules stipulate that the committee be made up of at least four members of LDStorymakers. Their positions are temporary, by invitation of the Whitney Awards Committee president (who is appointed by the LDStorymakers executive committee). The 2009 committee included: Robison Wells, president Julie Coulter Bellon Danyelle Ferguson John Ferguson Crystal Leichty Sheila Staley Jaime Theler The 2011 committee included: Josi S. Kilpack, president Annette Lyon Heather B. Moore Jana Parkin Sarah M. Eden Luisa Perkins The 2015 committee were: Jaime Theler, president Kaylee Baldwin Marion Jensen Nancy Campbell Allen Heather Justesen Deborah Talmadge-Bickmore Kimberly Vanderhorst The 2017 committee: Peggy Eddleman, president Janet Sumner Johnson Josi S. Kilpack Monique Luetkemeyer Jeremy Maughan E.B. Wheeler Michelle Wilson Jared Garrett Although Kerry Blair had been a member of the Whitney Awards Committee for two years, the other members of the committee "went behind her back" to name her the winner of a Lifetime Achievement Award for 2008. Reception One Mormon literature critic initially raised concerns with the heavy involvement of authors published by Covenant Communications in the awards process. However, when the finalists for 2007 were announced, this same commenter noted both that there was a wide spectrum of publishers represented, and that "Covenant publishes the lion's share of Mormon market fiction." This same critic later described the awards as "at best a reductive form of validation and criticism. Although let's be honest: The Whitneys have way more credibility than the Grammys." After the 2011 nominations, criticism of the nomination process was common, though appreciation of the Whitney Awards themselves was also common. See also AML Awards LDS fiction Notes References External links Official website of the Whitney Awards Storymakers Conference, organizing body for the Whitney Awards American literary awards Whitney Awards Whitney Awards Mormon literature Awards established in 2007 2007 establishments in the United States