NAAE Awards and Professional Development Opportunities

NAAE maintains an extensive awards program to recognize the accomplishments of our many talented and dedicated members. We have awards for agricultural educators in every stage of their careers, from scholarships to lifetime achievement. We also manage grant programs for organizations who want to help support agricultural education and agricultural educators.

 

2023 NAAE Award and Scholarship Recipients

NAAE Award and Recognition Archives

 

2023 Award Applications

Supporting information for each award is in PDF format. Accessing the files requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available FREE from the Adobe website.

2023 NAAE "Teachers Turn the Key" Scholarship Application

Agricultural education is continually faced with a shortage of qualified teachers. Unless those who have been trained enter and remain in the profession for a period of several years, the shortage of qualified teachers will prevail. As a means of encouraging young teachers to remain in the profession and to encourage and recognize participation in professional activities, NAAE offers the Teachers Turn the Key Scholarship.

NAAE members who are in their second, third or fourth year of teaching at the time they apply are eligible for this award. (When the awards are presented at the subsequent NAAE convention, the scholarship recipients will be in their third, fourth or fifth year of teaching.) Applicants must be a member of NAAE during the year of application (2022-2023) and be a member of NAAE at the time of the convention at which they receive the scholarship (2023-2024). All state winners must agree to attend the entire NAAE convention.

The deadline for submitting the state winning applications is May 15, 2023.

Teachers Turn the Key is an online application, which means you will have to log in to the NAAE website to access the application form. Please be sure to download the application instructions, supporting information and required signature document below to get started, and check the "Need help?" section for tips about navigating the online system.

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2023 NAAE Upper Division Scholarship

NAAE will award scholarships to students who are majoring in agricultural education and who will be completing their student teaching in the fall 2023 or spring 2024 semesters. Previous recipients of the NAAE Upper Division Scholarship are not eligible.

The deadline for submitting applications via the link below is May 15, 2023.

The Upper Division Scholarship is an online application, which means you will have to log in to the NAAE website to access the application form. Please be sure to download the application instructions and supporting information document below to get started, and check the "Need help?" section for tips about navigating the online system.

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2023 NAAE Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher Award

This program distinguishes NAAE members who are conducting the highest quality agricultural education programs. The award recognizes leadership in civic, community, agriculture/agribusiness and professional activities. Outstanding agricultural educators are innovators and catalysts for student success in agricultural education. Individuals may receive the regional award only once; previous regional winners are not eligible to apply.

The deadline for submitting applications via the link below is May 15, 2023.

Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher is an online application, which means you will have to log in to the NAAE website to access the application form. Please be sure to download the application instructions, supporting information and required signature document below to get started, and check the "Need help?" section for tips about navigating the online system.

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2023 NAAE Outstanding Early Career Teacher Award

The NAAE Outstanding Early Career Teacher Award program encourages young teachers to remain in the profession and to encourage and recognize participation in professional activities. NAAE members who are in their third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh year of teaching at the time they apply are eligible for this award. (When the awards are presented at the subsequent NAAE convention, the award recipients will be in their fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth year of teaching.) Individuals may receive the regional award only once; previous regional winners are not eligible to apply.

The deadline for submitting applications via the link below is May 15, 2023.

Outstanding Early Career Teacher is an online application, which means you will have to log in to the NAAE website to access the application form. Please be sure to download the application instructions, supporting information and required signature document below to get started, and check the "Need help?" section for tips about navigating the online system.


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2022 NAAE Outstanding Middle/Secondary Program Award

A goal of NAAE is to promote outstanding programs in agricultural education and effectively communicate success stories. The Outstanding Middle/Secondary School Ag Ed Program Award promulgates that goal. Agricultural education programs in middle schools and secondary schools are eligible to participate in this recognition program. Previous regional winners may reapply for this award every five years if they choose (that is, programs that won the regional award in 2022 may reapply in 2027).

The deadline for submitting applications via the link below is May 15, 2023.

The Outstanding Middle/Secondary Program Award is an online application, which means you will have to log in to the NAAE website to access the application form. Please be sure to download the application instructions, supporting information and required signature document below to get started, and check the "Need help?" section for tips about navigating the online system.


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2023 NAAE Outstanding Postsecondary Agriculture Program Award

NAAE places high value on continuing education in agriculture. The Outstanding Postsecondary Agriculture Program Award recognizes exemplary postsecondary institutions and full-time young farmer and adult ag ed programs. Qualifying young farmer and/or adult ag ed program staff must devote at least 50 percent of their teaching time to this level of instruction. Previous regional winners may reapply for this award every five years if they choose (that is, programs that won the regional award in 2022 may reapply in 2027).

The deadline for submitting applications via the link below is May 15, 2023.

The Outstanding Postsecondary Agriculture Program Award is an online application, which means you will have to log in to the NAAE website to access the application form. Please be sure to download the application instructions, supporting information and required signature document below to get started, and check the "Need help?" section for tips about navigating the online system.



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2023 NAAE Teacher Mentor Award Application

CEV If you ask agriculture teachers what motivated them to enter and stay in the teaching profession, predominately they will attribute their decision to another agriculture teacher who encouraged them. Many state agricultural education associations have recognized the importance of positive relationships between beginning and experienced teachers by creating formal organizational structures to connect beginning and experienced teachers. This award program will provide additional incentives for experienced teachers to become mentors for beginning teachers, and it will provide beginning teachers a way to say thank you to the experienced teachers who have influenced them. The Teacher Mentor Award is sponsored by CEV Multimedia.

The deadline for submitting applications via the link below is May 15, 2023.

Teacher Mentor is an online application, which means you will have to log in to the NAAE website to access the application form. Please be sure to download the application instructions, supporting information and required signature document below to get started, and check the "Need help?" section for tips about navigating the online system.

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2023 NAAE Ideas Unlimited Award Application

The Ideas Unlimited award is designed to give members an opportunity to exchange classroom, SAE, leadership, and other teaching ideas. The idea may be original or borrowed. Each application should specify how the idea was used by the applicant and how the idea could help others in their teaching. All active NAAE members, except current members of the NAAE board of directors, who are teaching agricultural education are eligible to enter this competition. In addition, each applicant must have been a NAAE member the three previous years or continuously since he/she began teaching. There are no restrictions limiting the number of times an individual can win the regional contest. The Ideas Unlimited Award is sponsored by National Geographic Learning | Cengage Learning.

The deadline for submitting applications is May 15, 2023.

Ideas Unlimited is an online application, which means you will have to log in to the NAAE website to access the application form. Please be sure to download the application instructions, supporting information and required signature document below to get started, and check the "Need help?" section for tips about navigating the online system.

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    2023 NAAE Outstanding Service Award Application

    NAAE will recognize current NAAE members, retired NAAE members, and organizations who have made significant contributions to agricultural education at the state, regional, and national levels with the Outstanding Service Award. One recipient from each of the six NAAE regions will be recognized with a plaque at the 2023 NAAE Convention. State winning applications should be brought to the respective NAAE Regional Leadership Conference for judging.

    The Outstanding Service Award is sponsored by Goodheart-Willcox.

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    2023 NAAE Lifetime Achievement Award Application

    NAAE will recognize retired NAAE members who have made significant contributions to agricultural education at the state, regional, and national levels with Lifetime Achievement Award. One recipient from each of the six NAAE regions will be recognized with a plaque at the 2023 NAAE Convention. State winning applications should be brought to the respective NAAE Regional Leadership Conference for judging.

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    NAAE Professional State Association Award Application

    NAAE will recognize state associations who have aggressively engaged in certain well-planned activities designed to serve the best interest of the members and the profession. 2023 Professional State Association Award applications are due September 20, 2023.

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    Professional Development Opportunities

    Looking for additional professional development opportunities? Check out the professional development section of our website.


    FAQ - Filling out NAAE Award Applications Online

    How do I log in?

    When you click "click here to complete your online application," you will be prompted to log in to the website. If you have never logged in before or don't remember your password, click the "Can't Access Account?" link and follow the instructions to reset or set up your password. *Note - you must use the email address we have on file with your membership record. If you still have problems logging in, please call the NAAE office at 1-800-509-0204. The NAAE office is open from 8am until 5pm eastern time, Monday-Friday.

    Can I fill out more than one award online?

    It is possible to submit multiple NAAE awards and to have multiple award applications in progress at the same time. Simply choose the application you want to work on from the drop-down list or the http://www.naae.org/resources/awards/index.cfm page. Just be sure to hit the save button on the application you’re working on before you move to a different application.

    Working on an award over multiple sessions?

    Because the awards forms are associated with your profile, you can partially complete an awards application, save it, log out, and log back in later to complete the form. The items you have attached to the application and the fields you have filled out will be saved. You can have multiple awards in progress at the same time, and work on those awards over an extended period of time.

    What format do I need to save my supporting documents in?

    Please save the documents to be uploaded in the supporting documents section in a common file format - PDFs, Word documents, plain text files, or image files are all acceptable. For the fields where you are asked to upload a picture, a file format of .gif, .jpeg, .png, .bmp, .jpg or .tif is required.

    How do I change the information in the grayed-out fields?

    To change information that appears in a grayed-out field on the application form, use one of the "update your profile" links located at various places on the awards form. This links you to another form where you can update that information. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the profile update form and submit your changes before you return to the awards form. You will need to refresh the awards form or log out and log back in to see the changes reflected.

    Can I attach more than one file to each category in the Supporting Documents area?

    You can only attach one file per category in the Supporting Documents area. For instance, your supporting materials (up to 8 pages) should be saved as one continuous file, then that file should be uploaded to the corresponding area under supporting documents.

    I need a cover sheet so I can turn in my award application for state-level judging.

    If you wish to print a hard copy of the information on the award application form, use the print button at the top or bottom of the page. It is not necessary to print a hard copy to submit your award to NAAE - this is strictly for your own use.You must print before you submit your application. After you click the submit button, you will no longer be able to access the form for that award.

    Can I submit my application for state-level competition using your form?

    The submit button at the bottom of the application form submits the application to NAAE, not to your state association. If you would like to submit the application to your state association, SAVE it, use the print button to print a cover sheet, and then send the application and required materials to your state association via mail or email. If you are selected as the state winner and need to submit the application to NAAE, return to the form and use the submit button to send it to us.

    Can NAAE access my saved award application?

    No. Until you hit the submit button, NAAE can not see your award application. Applications must be submitted by June 1 in order to be eligible for judging.

    What is the difference between the SAVE and SUBMIT buttons?

    The SAVE button saves your application and allows you to leave the application form and return later to complete it. That means you can upload some files during one session, then return a few days later to upload the rest of the files or update and replace a previously uploaded file.Clicking the SUBMIT button sends the application to NAAE. Once you click SUBMIT, you will no longer be able to access your application for that award. You will still be able to access applications for other awards.

    Can I change something on my award application after I hit the SUBMIT button?

    No. Once you click the SUBMIT button, you will no longer be able to access your application for that award. You will still be able to access applications for other awards.

    How will I know that my application has been successfully submitted?

    Once you click the submit button, you will get an on-screen notification that your award application has been submitted. Please print this for your records. In addition, you will receive an email confirmation.

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