Excellence in Education Awards: Recognizing and Rewarding Achievement
The pursuit of excellence in education is a continuous journey, marked by dedication, innovation, and a commitment to fostering the growth of students. Across the nation, various awards and programs have been established to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements in education, both for students and educators. This article will delve into the criteria and significance of several excellence in education awards, highlighting their role in promoting and rewarding academic success, scholarly research, and exceptional teaching practices.
A+ School of Excellence Award
Amazing things happen in Arizona public schools every day. Since 1983, the A+ School of Excellence program has served to identify and recognize educational excellence in public schools throughout the state.The A+ School of Excellence program has endured to recognize the best-of-the-best in Arizona public Schools. Not only does the award program celebrate outstanding schools, but it also provides Arizona administrators with a framework for exemplary school self-assessment. Schools that earn the A+ School of Excellence Award stand out for their dedication to providing exceptional education to the students of Arizona, implementing practices that go far beyond the standard. AEF is proud to recognize and celebrate the outstanding work being done at public schools across Arizona every day.
President's Award for Educational Excellence
This award recognizes academic success in the classroom. To be eligible, students must meet requirements, including grade point average or, school-set criteria and choice of state tests or teacher recommendations. Students at each award level (elementary, middle, or high school) must meet the requirements in Category A and either 1 or 2 of Category C. If a school does not have letter grades, a student must meet the requirements in Category B and either 1 or 2 of Category C. Criteria for this award is developed at each school.
Selection Criteria
Note: The school principal plays leading role and has sole discretion in choosing recipients for their school in accordance to their state grading scale.
Grade Point Average
Students are to earn a grade point average of 90 on a 100 point scale, (an A on a letter scale or a 3.5 on a 4.0 scale). When computing grade point averages at the respective award level, only the years at that level are to be included through the fall semester of the exiting grade. Note: Elementary schools are not to include K-3 in their computations.
Read also: Eligibility: WI Excellence Scholarship
School Criteria/Standards
Standards for the award are to be established by each school that reflect a 90 percent level or higher on the traditional grading scale. This category enables school personnel to use new assessment and evaluation tools in developing award criteria at their school and apply the criteria fairly to all students. The primary indicators of excellence must be based on academic achievement. School personnel may also consider, as part of the criteria, activities in which a student demonstrates high motivation, initiative, integrity, intellectual depth, leadership qualities and/or exceptional judgment. They may also require student essays and outstanding attendance, but these activities must bear some relationship to the academic performance of a student.
Additional Criteria
In addition to A or B, schools are to include one or more of the following criteria to determine their selected students:
- State Tests and Nationally-Normed Achievement Tests: High achievement in reading or math on state tests or nationally-normed tests. The school may consider college admissions examinations for seniors, for example the SAT or ACT.
- Recommendations from a Teacher Plus One Other Staff Member: One recommendation is to reflect outstanding achievement such as English, mathematics, science, history, geography, art, foreign language, and any other courses that reflect a school's core curriculum. This judgment is to be supported by tangible evidence that is comprised of either results on teacher-made tests, portfolio assessment, or special projects. The second recommendation from a school staff member may address, for example: involvement in community service or co-curricular activities including tutoring other students and/or demonstration of creativity and achievement in the visual and performing arts.
President's Award for Educational Achievement
This award recognizes students that show outstanding educational growth, improvement, commitment or intellectual development in their academic subjects but do not meet the criteria for the Educational Excellence Award. Its purpose is to encourage and reward students who give their best effort, often in the face of special obstacles. Criteria for this award is developed at each school.
Selection Criteria
Note: The principal plays a leading role and has sole discretion in choosing recipients. This award is given at the principal's discretion based on the criteria developed at the school.
Excellence in Education Program
The Excellence in Education Program, which provides a $1,500 award, was established to support graduate student research in the summer. The awards are intended to assist graduate students in the conduct of scholarly research and creative works that will enhance their academic experience and professional growth. Recipients of this grant will also receive a one-credit tuition stipend to enroll in a course directly related to their research (e.g., Special Topics, Directed Studies, Thesis) during one of the two summer sessions.
Read also: Comprehensive Eiffel Scholarship Guide
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Have regular status in a graduate degree program with an NMU graduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
- Be enrolled in at least one course related to their area of research during one of the two summer sessions.
- Have support from a faculty sponsor and the student’s department head (the sponsor must provide a letter of support; the department head must approve the student's application).
Students who receive an Excellence in Education award but fail to complete a course related to their project at NMU must forfeit the award and pay back any monies received. Students may only receive the Excellence in Education award two times over the course of their graduate program.
Important Dates
- Winter Deadline: February 13
- February: Department Head submits student rankings
- Mid-March: Review by Graduate Programs Committee (GPC)
- Late March: Award notification (depending on the GPC meeting schedule, award notifications may be made slightly earlier or later)
- End of May: Deadline for student to be registered for a summer session course relating to their research. One credit of graduate-level tuition is provided in the Excellence in Education Award.
Eligible Activities
Activities that the student, faculty sponsor, and department head define as scholarly or creative work will be considered by the review committee. To be considered for funding, activities must result in a tangible product. Awards provide funds for supplies, materials, travel, living expenses, or other activities directly associated with the conduct of the proposed project. In addition to the funding available for the conduct of research, requests will be considered for the support of student travel to scholarly meetings at which the applicant will be presenting a paper or creative exhibit. If the paper/exhibit has been accepted for presentation prior to the submission deadline for the Excellence in Education Program, evidence of acceptance (e.g., acceptance letter, conference program, etc.) must accompany the proposal.
Application Procedure
Excellence in Education applications will be submitted using the Cayuse electronic system. After applications are submitted, department heads will be contacted to evaluate the proposals and rate them as excellent, very good, good, or fair. Departments with more than one applicant will also be asked to rank the applications.
Application Components
Each application should include the following sections, starting on a new page:
Read also: Eligibility for ASAHP Scholarship
- A project abstract of no more than 250 words, and the course name and number the student plans to enroll in during one of the summer sessions.
- A double-spaced narrative (4 pages minimum, 6 pages maximum in Times New Roman 12-point font, with 1-inch margins all around) which includes the following:
- A statement of the problem, project objectives, and significance
- A brief discussion of the project rationale and a literature review
- The project plan that includes a timetable with expected outcomes (e.g., paper, presentation, or creative work)
- Where applicable, a statement of resource availability (e.g., supplies, equipment, staff) where applicable.
- Budget Form - A detailed budget and budget justification that clearly justify the requested funds, indicating how monies will be used to support the research project should be submitted using the linked form, saved as a PDF.
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