At the annual Confucius Institute Conference in December 2011, the Confucius Institute Headquarters designated outstanding contributors in both Confucius Institute of the Year Awards and Outstanding Individual Performance of Excellence Awards. This year Michele Ferrier Heryford, Director of the University of Pittsburgh Confucius Institute, was honored with a Confucius Institute Individual Performance of Excellence Award for 2011. This award was given to directors from Confucius Institutes/Confucius Classrooms around the world. Currently there are 350 Confucius Institutes and 500 Confucius Classrooms internationally. Of the 850 directors, 31 received this outstanding commendation for exceptional service and leadership. Ms. Heryford was one of nine directors in North America to be selected for the award out of 110 CI's and Confucius Classrooms.