Eisner Award 

This award was named for Will Eisner, a founding father of the comic book industry.  The Eisner Awards are often referred to as the Oscars of the comic book industry.  Award winners include Fax from Sarajevo, Blankets, Maus II, Marvels, Y The Last Man (not for your collection), and Last Day in Vietnam.

http://www.eisnerawards.org/

The Eisner site is under construction.

One of the two awards that took over for the Kirby Award, the Harvey award honors excellence in over 20 different categories, including the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame.  Named after Harvey Kurtzman, who founded MAD in 1952, he was renown for inspiring the new generations of artist that followed.  Award winners include Bone, Love and Rockets (not for your collection), and Marvel 1602.

http://www.harveyawards.org/

Kirby Award 

This was a prestigious award in comic books, voted on by industry professionals, from 1985-1987 when legal disputes led to the creation of the Eisner and Harvey Awards.  It was named after Jack Kirby, whose distinctive style revolutionized an industry.  Award winners include Watchman (not for your collection), Swamp Thing, Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Rocketeer, and Beowulf.

http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/kirby.php

The Hugo Awards are presented for excellence in the genre of science fiction since 1955.  Although not strictly a graphic novel award, graphic novels have been recipients including Watchman (see above) and Girl Genius (also not for your collection).  

http://www.thehugoawards.org/

Judged by leading experts in the genre of fantasy since 1975.  A convention is held each year where the literature is discussed, votes are tallied, and awards are given.  Neil Gaiman's Sandman series is a noteworthy winner.

http://www.worldfantasy.org/awards/

Ignatz Award 

The Ignatz Award is named after a character in the Krazy Kat comic strip.  This is a festival prize awarded by a panel of five prominent cartoonists.  Award winners include Tricked (not for your collection), Ghost World (also not for your collection), From Hell (definitely not for your collection).  Pretty much, if it won an Ignatz, it's a good read, but not for your students.

http://www.spxpo.com/ignatz-awards

YALSA Award

This award is given in conjunction with the ALA for excellence in the field of graphic novels and manga.  These titles should make up your core collection.  Most of these titles are student safe.  Double check the ratings in Follette and the reviews before you order.

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/ggnt/nominations

Kodansha Manga Award 

The Kodansha Manga award is given annually to the best serialized manga from the prior year.  Award winners include Akira (not for your collection), Fruit's Basket, 3x3 Eyes, and 20th Century Boys (also not for your collection).

http://www.kodansha.co.jp/english/literary/index.html

Ruben Award

National Cartoonists Society

The Ruben Award is given by the National Cartoonist Society for excellence in the field.  The award is normally given to comic strips and not graphic novels.  However, in 2010 the award went to a graphic novel, Special Exits by Joyce Farmer.

http://www.reuben.org/?page_id=389

The Pulitzer is THE most prestigious literary award honoring excellence in journalism and the arts.  Spiegelman's Maus was the only graphic novel to win this award.

http://www.pulitzer.org/