<p>It does not matter that only 12 students get it per state. All it means is that 12 high schools in your state have some type of relationship with the Princeton alumni club in the state and have arranged for Princeton's local alumni club to give out the book award.
While any book award is nice to list in your application, and it is an honor to receive one, it is an honor like any other high school award that you might receive on an awards day at your school. Receiving a book award has nothing to do with that particular college wanting you. I know of students who received a book award applied to that school thinking that the school really wanted them. The book award has nothing to do with the college. Usually the alumni club speaks with the principal or head guidance counselors and the high schools and the princiapl or guidance counselor comes up with a list and teachers vote and they decide who will get what book awards.
It does not matter that only 12 them in the state. It could very well be that more don't get them because more schools have not arranged for the alumni club to give one, or were not contacted by them</p>