TAHPERD AWARDS

Awards Descriptions

TAHPERD Award Descriptions Members are encouraged to honor and recognize their colleagues by nominating those qualified for one of the TAHPERD awards listed below. Please make your nominations via the web (www.tahperd.org).

DAVID K. BRACE AWARD 

The David K. Brace Award is for individuals who are clearly outstanding in the profession, who exemplify the best in service, teaching, and/or administration, who are recognized by members as noteworthy leaders, and whose lives and contributions inspire others. The criteria are: 

1. Served the HPERD profession for a minimum of twenty (20) years in Texas. 
2. Member of TAHPERD for ten (10) years immediately preceding nomination. 
3. Received a state, district, or national award for professional contributions. 
4. Clearly outstanding in the profession and have exemplified the best in service, teaching, and/or administration. 
5. Provide documented evidence of extensive professional involvement in an associated national organization such as SHAPE America. 6. Has received the Honor Award. 

HONOR AWARD 

The Honor Award is for significant contributions to health education, physical education, recreation, and/or dance. The criteria are: 

1. Served the profession for a minimum of ten (10) years in Texas. 
2. Member of TAHPERD for five (5) years immediately preceding nomination. 
3. Significant contributions to health education, physical education, recreation, and/or dance through one or more of the following: excellence in teaching; outstanding administrative achievement; significant contribution to researcher creative endeavors; leadership in professional organizations at state, district, and national levels to include TAHPERD; contribution to professional literature; and outstanding community service. 

TAHPERD SCHOLAR AWARD 

In order to be considered, an individual must have been a member of TAHPERD for the five years preceding nomination. The selection will be based on qualifications in terms of training and experience and on the basis of scholarly activity in publications and presentations at the state and national level. Nominees must provide the following information: 

1. A letter of recommendation 
2. Present position and institution 
3. Degrees held 
4. Professional experience 
5. Publications in scholarly journals 
6. Presentations at professional meetings 
7. Name of person making recommendation 
8. Evidence of scholarly creative endeavors 

EDUCATOR/PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARDS 

TAHPERD recognizes outstanding teaching and professional involvement by selecting and honoring teachers and/or professionals of the year in Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. Those receiving such recognition are advanced for similar honors awarded by Southern District AAHPERD (13 southern states). Those eligible are forwarded to SHAPE America for consideration for National Awards.

In order to be considered for this award a person must be a TAHPERD member for three (3) successive years prior to nomination. After receiving the names of nominees, each will be asked to document their professional success in a formal application. To be eligible for competition beyond the state level, award recipients must be members of the SHAPE America.

EMERGING PROFESSIONAL AWARD 

The criteria for this award: 

1. Must have been working five (5) or fewer years in the profession since obtaining their undergraduate degree with a major/minor in HPERD 
2. Recognized excellence in professional duties, i.e., teaching, coaching, administration, etc. 
3. Leadership and service to the profession to include contributions made to TAHPERD conventions, workshops, and conferences 
4. Contributions made to her/his community 
5. Enthusiastic promotion of the HPERD profession 
6. Must have been a student or professional member of TAHPERD for two years at time of nomination.

PATHFINDER AWARD 

The TAHPERD Pathfinder Award provides state recognition to women who have demonstrated continuous dedication to the advocacy, recruitment, and enhancement of girls and women in sport and sport leadership in Texas. The presentation for the TAHPERD Pathfinder Award will qualify a TAHPERD member for consideration for the NAGWS national Pathfinder Award. The criteria for this award: 

1. Candidates must be a current TAHPERD member and for at least the five (5) years immediately preceding nomination for the award. 
2. The female candidate for the Pathfinder Award must have worked for ten (10) or more years in the profession as is evidenced by: a. Recognized excellence and dedication to the advocacy and recruitment of girls and women in sport and sport leadership in the State of Texas. b. Exhibit leadership and service to the profession in girls and women’s sport. c. Demonstrate enthusiastic promotion of girls and women’s sport within the HPERD profession.

TRAILBLAZER AWARD 

The TAHPERD Trailblazer Award is to provide state recognition to TAHPERD members who have demonstrated continuous dedication to the advocacy, recruitment, and enhancement of male and/or female sport and sport leadership in Texas. The criteria for this award: 

1. Candidates must be a current TAHPERD member and for at least the five (5) years immediately preceding nomination for the award. 
2. The candidate for the Trailblazer Award must have worked for ten (10) or more years in the profession as is evidenced by: a. Recognized excellence and dedication to the advocacy and recruitment of athletes in male and/or female sport and sport leadership in the State of Texas. b. Exhibit leadership and service to the profession in male and/or female sport. c. Demonstrate enthusiastic promotion of male and/or female sport within the HPERD profession.

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 

 The Administrator of the Year Award honors those individuals who have dedicated themselves to excellence as administrators or supervisors, in contributions to their profession, and in service to the mission of TAHPERD. These individuals exemplify the highest standards in accomplishment and innovation, and in strong and vigorous leadership. 

1. Candidates must be a current TAHPERD member and for at least the five (5) years immediately preceding nomination for the award. 
2. The candidate shall serve as a K-12 or college/university administrator/supervisor of the disciplines for health, physical education, recreation, and/or dance for five (5) or more years. 
3. Demonstrate leadership in HPERD disciplines at the local and state levels. 
4. Demonstrate advocacy for quality education in the HPERD disciplines. 
5. Demonstrate significant contributions to
   1. curriculum development,
   2. technology,
   3. innovation,
   4. staff development,
   5. program improvement,
   6. resource development in HPERD discipline

DANCE HERITAGE AWARD 

The TAHPERD Dance Heritage Award is established to provide state recognition to elite TAHPERD members who have demonstrated continuous leadership and dedication to the advocacy and enhancement of dance in Texas. The criteria for this award: 

1. Candidates must be TAHPERD members for at least the five (5) years immediately preceding nomination for the award. 
2. Candidates must have worked for ten (10) or more years in the profession as is evidenced by 
   1. Recognized excellence in education, choreography, performance or scholarship in dance
   2. Leadership and service to professional organizations to include TAHPERD
   3. Enthusiastic promotion of dance within the HPERD profession
   4. Involvement in community outreach program

PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS

TAHPERD Award Recipients
Prior to 2021 Award Recipients

TOSY Nominations

TOSY is TAHPERD’s recognition of students of TAHPERD members that are outstanding in our disciplines of health, physical education, recreation, and dance. The only criterion for the recognition is the recommendation of the student’s teacher (TAHPERD member). The deadline for submitting an application is April 1st.
 
K-12: Online TOSY Award Nomination Portal
College: Nominate in the Member Portal- Under Engagement --> Nominations

• Must be a current TAHPERD member to nominate at student.
• College students must be a current TAHPERD member in order to be recognized.
• (2) students can be nominated per TAHPERD member, one male & one female.

All certificates will be completed and returned to the TAHPERD member no later than April 30th.

If there are special needs that require a certificate prior to this date, please contact Rachel Naylor, rachel@tahperd.org , and arrangements will be made.

TAHPERD Exemplary School Award

The TAHPERD Exemplary School Award recognizes school campuses for excellence in health and physical education. 

2025-2026 Applications