State Level Recognitions
Individual Awards Given at the State Level
Each year, Washington State PTA (WSPTA) may honor individuals or groups for their state-level service and/or advocacy on behalf of children by presenting them with a WSPTA award. Recipients of these awards further the vision and mission of WSPTA through their service and/or advocacy at the state level. WSPTA awards may or may not be presented annually.
This is your opportunity to nominate an individual or group for WSPTA to consider for recognition. The WSPTA Awards Committee will use the information you provide to judge the nominees, so please provide as much detail as possible. Nominees who do not meet the state-level criteria will not be considered but could be nominated at the local PTA or council level.
To nominate an individual or group to be considered by the WSPTA awards committee for one of the awards, complete the online WSPTA Awards Nomination Form. The deadline for nominations is March 14.
A description of each award and a list of past recipients may be found below.
Outstanding Service
The WSPTA Outstanding Service Award was added in 1962, building on the success of the Golden Acorn Award program. This award recognizes statewide service to children. It is awarded to an individual who has given dedicated and long-term volunteer service that positively impacts every child throughout Washington state while demonstrating the WSPTA core values.
Councils interested in recognizing a volunteer for outstanding service may find more information here.
Honorary Life Membership
The WSPTA Honorary Life Membership Award recognizes an individual who has contributed significantly to the development, growth, and sustainability of WSPTA at the state level. It is awarded to someone who has shown extraordinary commitment to WSPTA’s vision and mission.
A local PTA or council interested in recognizing a volunteer who has made significant contributions to the development and growth of the local PTA or council may find more information here.
Note: Honorary Life Membership Award recipients do not receive a free membership in the PTA; recipients of this award need to continue to purchase their own PTA membership annually.
Outstanding Advocate
The WSPTA Outstanding Advocate Award was established in 2004 to recognize an individual for his or her statewide advocacy and commitment in helping to create strong policies relating to the health, welfare, safety and education of children and youth. The individual should have furthered WSPTA’s policy positions (legislative principles, resolutions, and legislative issues) by activities such as, but not limited to, submitting policy positions, testifying on policy positions on behalf of WSPTA, or representing WSPTA on workgroups or coalitions.
A local PTA or council interested in recognizing a volunteer with this award may find more information here.
View the list of past WSPTA Outstanding Advocate Recipients.
Outstanding Student Advocate
The WSPTA Outstanding Student Advocate award was introduced in the 2018-2019 year to recognize a student for their statewide advocacy. This award recognizes and honors a student for statewide advocacy, leadership, and/or service on behalf of all children and youth.
A local PTA or council interested in recognizing a student with this award may find more information here.
View the list of past WSPTA Outstanding Student Advocate Recipients.
Outstanding Educator
The WSPTA Outstanding Educator Award is presented to an individual who has exhibited continued and dedicated statewide contributions and efforts to enhance the educational outcomes of all children or youth. This is the “Educator of the Year” award from WSPTA (an educator is not limited to a teacher).
A local PTA or council interested in recognizing an outstanding educator who has made significant contributions in their community may find more information here.
View the list of past WSPTA Outstanding Educator Recipients.
Friend of Children
The WSPTA Friend of Children Award recognizes and honors an individual or organization for state-level dedication to all children through service aligned with WSPTA’s vision and mission supporting the welfare, health, safety and/or education of Washington state’s children.
This award may only be granted by the WSPTA board of directors.