In the American Kennel Club's ongoing efforts to recognize and celebrate its volunteer club members, The AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award program was established in 2006 to provide each member club with an AKC Medallion to award to one of its own on a yearly basis.

This award honors those individuals who deserve special recognition that have made a difference in the sport of purebred dogs, embodied the AKC Code of Sportsmanship, and have been an active and valued member of an AKC member club. Medallions are awarded solely at the club's discretion.

Criteria for Selecting a SSCA Member to Receive the AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award
The recipient must be a member in good standing of the SSCA for at least five (5) years. They must have undertaken substantial activities to promote the sport of purebred dogs, demonstrated a high level of commitment to the Standard Schnauzer and embody the attributes outlined in the AKC Code of Sportsmanship (see below).

The recipient should regularly attend dog shows with their dog(s) and/or participate in activities (conformation, performance and companion) of the SSCA and/or regional clubs.

This annual award will be presented to a SSCA member at the Annual Awards banquet during the SSCA National Specialty weekend for their contribution to the club/breed. Examples of such contributions might include spearheading a successful program, making a major contribution to the breed, organizing a successful fund raising effort, or (simply) a selfless act of kindness.

1) How will recipients be nominated?
Nominations should come from three (3) SSCA members in good standing with an essay of 200 words on why the individual (or group) deserves to be nominated. The essay should describe the activities of this individual (or group) that makes them a worthy candidate and explain how this person or group exemplifies good sportsmanship as outlined in the AKC Code of Sportsmanship. The nomination will be sent to the SSCA Secretary and received by February 1st of each year.

If the SSCA Secretary does not receive a nomination from the membership by February 1st, the SSCA Board can make the selection for the recipient of the AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award for that year.

2) Who will select the winners?
The award recipient will be selected by a vote of the SSCA Board and the Chairs of the Standing Committees.

3) What are the criteria of the award?
The award will recognize an individual (or group) who has shown unparalleled examples of good sportsmanship and who best exemplify the ideals of sportsmanship as outlined in the AKC Code of Sportsmanship, including but not limited to: fairness, civility, honesty, unselfishness and respect of the rules. The individual will also have set a good example and acted responsibly in furthering the SSCA's objectives:

• To define the standard of the breed and to urge members and breeders to accept the AKC standard for judging and breeding
• To promote the Standard Schnauzer as a show dog, performance dog, family dog, and guard dog
• To popularize the breed with the general public by providing information and news concerning breeding, care, training and showing
• To protect and advance the interest in the breed by encouraging sportsmanship
• To assist in conducting AKC licensed Specialty show, obedience trials, and agility trials
• To encourage and foster the establishment of Regional Clubs for the betterment of the breed

The sport of purebred dog competitive events dates prior to 1884, the year of AKC's birth. Shared values of those involved in the sport include principles of sportsmanship. They are practiced in all sectors of our sport: conformation, performance, and companion. Many believe that these principles of sportsmanship are the prime reason why our sport has thrived for over one hundred years. With the belief that it is useful to periodically articulate the fundamentals of our sport, this code is presented.

• Sportsmen respect the history, traditions and integrity of the sport of purebred dogs.
• Sportsmen commit themselves to values of fair play, honesty, courtesy, and vigorous competition, as well as winning and losing with grace.
• Sportsmen refuse to compromise their commitment and obligation to the sport of purebred dogs by injecting personal advantage or consideration into their decisions or behavior.
• The sportsman judge judges only on the merits of the dogs and considers no other factors.
• The sportsman judge or exhibitor accepts constructive criticism.
• The sportsman exhibitor declines to enter or exhibit under a judge where it might reasonably appear that the judge's placements could be based on something other than the merits of the dogs.
• The sportsman exhibitor refuses to compromise the impartiality of a judge.
• The sportsman respects the AKC bylaws, rules, regulations and policies governing the sport of purebred dogs.
• Sportsmen find that vigorous competition and civility are not inconsistent and are able to appreciate the merit of their competition and the effort of competitors.
• Sportsmen welcome, encourage and support newcomers to the sport.
• Sportsmen will deal fairly with all those who trade with them.
• Sportsmen are willing to share honest and open appraisals of both the strengths and weaknesses of their breeding stock.
• Sportsmen spurn any opportunity to take personal advantage of positions offered or bestowed upon them.
• Sportsmen always consider as paramount the welfare of their dog.
• Sportsmen refuse to embarrass the sport, the American Kennel Club, or themselves while taking part in the sport.

• 2007 - Carol and Ron Green, Cerritos, CA
  (Photo: Pepper 'N Salt, Nov 2008, p 5)
  
  
• 2008 - Patricia Hannum White, Catlett, VA
  (Photo: Pepper 'N Salt, Nov 2009, p 27)
  
  
• 2009 - Suzanne and Ron Smith, Los Alamos, NM
  (Photo: Pepper 'N Salt, Mar 2011, p 7)
  
  
• 2010 - No Recipient
  
  
• 2011 - No Recipient
  
  
• 2012 - Mary Lu and Bob Quehl, Pittsburg, PA
  (Photo: Pepper 'N Salt, July 2013, p 5)
  
  
• 2013 - No Recipient
  
  
• 2014 - No Recipient
  
  
• 2015 - No Recipient
  
  
• 2016 - No Recipient
  
  
• 2017 - No Recipient
  
  
• 2018 - No Recipient
  
  
• 2019 -
  Stephnie Blanks, Macon, GA
  (Photo: Pepper 'N Salt, September 2020, p 30)
  Karen Hughes, Bridgewater, NJ
  (Photo: Pepper 'N Salt, September 2020, p 31)