The Selma National Voting Rights Museum and Institute has a national accolade to add to its displays.

The museum was awarded the Civil Rights and Social Justice Award during the fifth National Civil Rights Conference held earlier this month in Meridian, Miss.

A few weeks ago, museum director Pearlie Walker received a calling telling her the museum was up for the award. She said she was still surprised when the museum won.

“It’s wonderful,” Walker said. “It’s an honor to be recognized nationally as an organization that’s still trying to carry on the history of the civil rights struggle and the voting rights struggle.”

Every year five people or organizations across the United States are selected to win the award.

Winners represent individuals who possess a history of or continuation of promoting human rights, civil rights and social justice.

Winners are nominated by individuals, who write a letter of recommendation. One of last year’s winners was civil rights icon and Georgia Congressman John Lewis.

“We looked over the history of the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, and based upon a letter of recommendation we thought the institute was an ideal candidate for one of our awards,” said Dr. Keith Parker, chair of the National Civil Rights Conference’s planning committee.

Although grateful for the honor, Walker said there was a conflict in her scheduling, so she could not attend the award ceremony. Instead, she decided to send other representatives to the awards show.

Parker also decided he would make the process easier by presenting the award to Walker in Selma.

“The museum and institute promotes human dignity, civil rights and social justice,” he said. “Those three components are what we look at when we consider an individual or an agency for the award.

“My hope is that other agencies will follow suit, as well as individuals will get involved and do what is necessary to make our community a better and a safer place.”

The award, which is a medallion, will hang on the walls of the museum.