Frequently Asked Questions

Who may nominate?

Current members of AAEA/NAEA are the only individuals allowed to nominate.

Who is eligible?

AAEA members who meet the established criteria are eligible to be nominated for awards. However, membership is not required for the Distinguished Service Outside the Profession and the Supervision/Administration award.

How do I submit a nomination?

1. Write a letter of recommendation/nomination that expresses why or how an individual should be recognized with an AAEA Award (saved as a PDF file and submitted through our online form).

2. Complete the online form before June 30th. 

What does a Nominee need to provide?

1. Two letters of recommendation (in addition to the letter submitted by the nominator).

2. A high resolution (300 dpi) publication-quality photo.

3. Complete the online form (includes AAEA standardized Vita Form) before July 31st.

What is the deadline for nominations?

Nominations must be submitted before June 30th.

Nominees must submit their required documents before July 31st.

Where should I send nominations?

Nominations are submitted through our online form and must include all required documents.

Do I need to submit all required documents together?

All required nomination documents are submitted together through the online form.

Who should write nomination and support letters?

The AAEA member who is making the nomination must write a letter of nomination. Letters supporting the nomination can be written by AAEA members, as well as non-members.

What are AAEA Divisions?

The Arizona Art Education Association is divided into six job-alike categories called Divisions: Elementary, Middle Level, Secondary, Higher Education, Supervision/Administration, and Museum Education. Division award nominees must spend at least 51% of their workday in the job division in which they have been nominated. 

How are awards selected?

The AAEA awards committee chair verifies that all nominees are eligible and that their nomination information is complete.  The selection committee uses a standardized rubric to score nominations. Results are reported to the AAEA President.

Please Note: If no nominees meet the criteria for a specific award, a recipient will not be selected. 

When are awards presented?

Awards are presented in the Fall at the AAEA Annual State Conference.

How are awards publicized?

All Award recipients are announced in the AAEA Newsletter as well as on the AAEA website.

Who do I contact with my questions? 

Contact the AAEA Awards Chair at aaea.awards@gmail.com.

AAEA Award Descriptions

Arizona Art Education Association membership is required to be nominated for an award with the exception of the Distinguished Service (Outside the Profession) award and the Supervision/Administration award.

Please read the description of the submission requirements for each award carefully to insure that you are submitting what is required. Further information may be needed in order for applicants to be nominated for regional and national levels of awards.

AAEA Division Art Educator Awards   AAEA has six job-alike categories called Divisions: Elementary, Middle Level, Secondary, Higher Education, Supervision & Administration, and Museum Education.  Eligibility: Division award nominees must spend at least 51% of their workday in the job division in which they have been nominated. 

Arizona State Art Educator Award  One outstanding AAEA member is honored for service and contributions to art education that merits recognition and acclaim.  Eligibility: Active NAEA members who hold membership in the state/province in which they are nominated.

Art Advocate Award  To recognize an individual or organization whose exemplary lifetime career has made a unique and lasting impact on art education’s important role in the lives of people.   Eligibility: An organization or individual that has brought distinction to the profession of art education through an exceptional and continuous record of achievement that has had a significant impact on students.

Distinguished Service Within the Profession Award  To recognize outstanding achievement, contribution, and service in previous years to the field of art education and to National and State/Province Associations.  Eligibility: Active AAEA members who have performed outstanding service on national and regional levels. 

Distinguished Service (Outside the Profession) Award  To recognize outstanding achievement and contributions in previous years by persons, or organizations outside the field of art education.  Eligibility: Membership is not required for the Distinguished Service (Outside the Profession) award, but the nominator must be a member. 

Emerging Leadership Award  In recognition of outstanding achievement, contribution, and service in the first five years of teaching to the field of art education and to the Arizona Art Education Association.  Eligibility: One to five year art educators, AAEA members who have made distinguished contributions to the art education profession.

New Professional Art Educator Award To recognize excellence and achievement by new art educators.  Eligibility: Individuals in their first year of teaching within the K-12 level will be eligible. This award is intended to recognize excellence among new art educators based on their success in student teaching and as a first-year teacher.

Higher Education Student Achievement Award  To recognize excellence in student involvement at the college university level. Eligibility: Student Members of AAEA who are enrolled as college/university students at the time the award is presented at the AAEA State Convention. Submit to AAEA: A letter of nomination listing the following: student’s name, home address, telephone number, e-mail address, level of study, GPA as of July 30, school name, school address, and school telephone number. If a student self-nominates, also include a letter of recommendation from a faculty member at the school or community base where they work or volunteer. Include a typed single-page resume listing the student’s artistic and extracurricular achievements in both school and community, a maximum two page typed “Philosophy of Teaching Art” statement, and six sets of five slides or six disks containing five digital images each representing the nominee’s artwork and/or their students’ artwork. All work must be original and not copied from other sources. Please list titles of artwork and media used, and distinguish between work created by nominees or by their students.

Higher Education Student Chapter Sponsor Award of Excellence  To recognize dedication to the development of future professional members of the AAEA through sponsorship of an outstanding Student Chapter group at the College/University level.  Eligibility: Sponsors of active Student Chapters.

J. Eugene Grigsby, Jr. Award (Committee on Multiethnic Concerns)  To honor individual(s) who have made distinguished contributions to the profession of art education. The record of achievement may be in scholarly writing, research, professional leadership, teaching and/or community service.  Eligibility: Active AAEA members and non-members who have brought distinction to the field of art education through an exceptional and continuous record of achievement which have impacted significantly on the multiethnic community. Current COMC officers may not be nominated.

Lowenfeld Award  Established in 1960 by friends and former students of Viktor Lowenfeld to honor an individual who over the years has made significant contributions to art education. The recipient presents the “Lowenfeld Lecture” at the national convention.  Eligibility: NAEA members who have made distinguished contributions to the art education profession.

Manuel Barkan Award  An annual award to an individual who through their published work in either Art Education or Studies in Art Education, has contributed a product of scholarly merit to the field. Scholarship can be defined broadly to include any written contribution dealing carefully and imaginatively with an important issue, problem or practice in the field. The Manuel Barkan Memorial Award was conceived as a tribute to Dr. Manuel Barkan.  Eligibility: The recipient is selected from NAEA members who have contributed articles in Art Education and/or Studies, published in the calendar year preceding the convention year.

Marion Quinn Dix Leadership Award  To recognize outstanding contributions and service to the profession by a State/Province association officer in the performance and/or development of specific programs, goals or activities at the State/Province association level. This award is presented in honor of NAEA’s third president, Marion Quin Dix, in recognition of her pioneer work in the development of NAEA as a national professional organization.  Eligibility: NAEA State/Province Association Officers.

National Art Honor Society Sponsor Award To recognize the dedication of an AAEA member who sponsors an outstanding National Art Honor Society chapter.  Eligibility: Sponsors of active NAHS chapters.

National Junior Art Honor Society Award  To recognize the dedication of an AAEA member who sponsors an outstanding National Junior Art Honor Society chapter.  Eligibility: Sponsors of active NJAHS Chapters.

Retired Art Educator Award  In recognition of continuous outstanding service to art education by an individual after (as well as before) retirement.  Eligibility: RAEA/NAEA members who have been retired at least 3 years and have brought distinction to the field of art education by exceptional and continuous records of achievement through teaching, professional leadership, and/or community service after retirement.

Secondary Student Award (High School Student)  To promote art education as a career by recognizing talented, active NAHS Members. Recognition as a “Rising Star” will be given at the AAEA State Convention* along with a 4-year complimentary AAEA student membership (with proof of college enrollment as an art education major).  Eligibility: Senior high school NAHS students seriously interested in becoming art educators. Submit to AAEA: A cover sheet containing nominee’s name, home address, telephone number, e-mail address, school name, school address, school telephone, NAHS Sponsor’s name, and chapter number; three letters of recommendation (one by an art educator, two from teachers and/or administrators); official high school transcript; a student personal statement regarding art education goals; a disk containing five digital samples of the nominee’s artwork; and a list denoting artwork titles and media used. All work must be original and not copied from other sources.