diff --git a/projects.inc.php b/projects.inc.php
index 74a54a5..b3f4a6b 100644
--- a/projects.inc.php
+++ b/projects.inc.php
@@ -169,31 +169,42 @@ function getProjectsNominatedForSpecialAward($award_id)
 {
 	global $config;
 
-	$prjq=mysql_query("SELECT
-				projects.projectnumber,
-				projects.title,
-				projects.id AS projects_id
-			FROM
-				project_specialawards_link,
-				projects
-			WHERE
-				project_specialawards_link.award_awards_id='$award_id'
-				AND project_specialawards_link.projects_id=projects.id
-				AND projects.projectnumber is not null
-				AND projects.year='".$config['FAIRYEAR']."'
-			ORDER BY
-				projectnumber
-				");
-	$projects=array();
-	while($prjr=mysql_fetch_object($prjq))
+	//if they dont use special award nominations, then we will instead get all of the projects that
+	//are eligible for the award, instead of nominated for it.
+	if($config['specialawardnomination']!="none")
 	{
-		$projects[$prjr->projectnumber]=array(
-					"id"=>$prjr->projects_id,
-					"projectnumber"=>$prjr->projectnumber,
-					"title"=>$prjr->title
-				);
+		$prjq=mysql_query("SELECT
+					projects.projectnumber,
+					projects.title,
+					projects.id AS projects_id
+				FROM
+					project_specialawards_link,
+					projects
+				WHERE
+					project_specialawards_link.award_awards_id='$award_id'
+					AND project_specialawards_link.projects_id=projects.id
+					AND projects.projectnumber is not null
+					AND projects.year='".$config['FAIRYEAR']."'
+				ORDER BY
+					projectnumber
+					");
+		$projects=array();
+		while($prjr=mysql_fetch_object($prjq))
+		{
+			$projects[$prjr->projectnumber]=array(
+						"id"=>$prjr->projects_id,
+						"projectnumber"=>$prjr->projectnumber,
+						"title"=>$prjr->title
+					);
+		}
+		//return the projects that have self-nominated themselves for the award
+		return $projects;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		//return the projects that are eligible for the award instead
+		return getProjectsEligibleForAward($award_id);
 	}
-	return $projects;
 }
 
 function getSpecialAwardsNominatedByRegistrationID($id)