VWBPE 2026: Insights
MARCH 19-21, 2026Nominate the VWBPE 2026 Thinkerer
In 2014, in recognition for his long-term leadership and dedication to furthering education, building communities, and inspiring collaborative development in virtual environments, VWBPE conferred the first annual Thinkerer Award upon its namesake, Thinkerer Melville (Selby Evans).
Every year since then, eleven outstanding individuals have received this special honor.
We look to you, the members of the education community, to nominate candidates for this special award. These would be those who embody the best qualities of leadership, consistent selfless service towards the promotion of learning, community, and educational practices, and the spirit of cooperative development within immersive environments. If you know of someone who deserves to be recognized for their contribution to the field of education and immersive environments, we encourage you to nominate them for the 2026 Thinkerer Award.
Only individuals may be nominated, but you may submit nominations for as many individuals as you like. Fill out the form once for each person. Nominees need not be Second Life or OpenSimulator account holders.
VWBPE Thinkerers: 2014-2025
Selby Evans - Thinkerer Melville
2014
Gentle Heron - Alice Krueger
2015
Andrew Wheelock - Spiff Whitfield
2016
Cynthia Calongne - Lyr Lobo
2017
Valerie Hill - VALibrarian Gregg
2018
Barbara Truman - Delightful Doowangle
2019
Renne Emiko Brock - Zinnia Zauber
2020
Lynne Berrett - Wisdomseeker
2021
Doris Molero - Pionia Destiny
2022
Sheila Webber - Sheila Yoshikawa
2023
Lorraine Mockford - LoriVonne Lustre
2024
Joyce Bettencourt - Rhiannon Chatnoir
2025
Submissions will be accepted through Saturday, January 31, 2026. Final selection of the award recipient will be conducted by the VWBPE Organizational Committee by mid-February, and will be announced publicly during the conference closing ceremonies on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Nomination Criteria
The award is for lifetime achievement in community development and leadership rather than for a single contribution.
- Nominees should have a minimum of 10 years of distinguished service to education and/or a specific community of practice. Nominees need not currently hold a professional position and may be retired.
- Nominee will have made significant contributions to one or more of VWBPE’s primary goals of helping build community through extension of learning best practices to practical application of those ideas and techniques;
- providing networking opportunities for educators and the communities that help support education; and/or
providing access to current innovations, trends, ideas, case studies, and other best practices for educators and the communities that help support education; - An active commitment to educational excellence;
- An active commitment to the service of others;
- An active commitment to advising or mentoring of others in the same community; and
- An active commitment to the ongoing promotion and development of best practices in their community of practice.
Exclusions
Individuals are ineligible for nomination if they fit any of the criteria below:
- The individual has not been engaged with their community of practice for more than 2 years;
- The individual has been a past award recipient; and
- The individual is only identifiable as their avatar personae (i.e. we must be able to identify the person by their current legal name and contact information).
Submit your nomination today! The nomination deadline is January 31, 2026.
IMPORTANT DATES
24 November 2025 – Call for Proposals Opens
30 November 2025 – Thinkerer Award Nominations Opens
04 January 2026 – Call for Volunteers & Film Crew opens
15 January 2026 – CFP for Presentations, IEs closes
22 January 2026 – 1st Networking Social (Theme: Frost Fair)
15 February 2026 – CFP for Exhibits, Posters closes, Call for Sponsors closes
19 February 2026 – 2nd Networking Social (Theme: Fishing Spot)
March 19-21, 2026 – VWBPE 2026 Conference – INSIGHTS
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