Awards & Recognition Opportunities
Nebraska Educators Rising offers various awards to recognize the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of members, chapters, teacher leaders, and adults. Checkout the Nebraska Educators Rising Awards & Recognition Guide or Awards & Recognition Opportunities flyer, which both include links to applications, due dates, and award descriptions. All awards are due January 30, 2026 unless otherwise noted.
Chapter Awards
Community Literacy Impact Award
This award aims to acknowledge chapters that completed a project to enhance literacy within their community. Chapters can complete any kind of project that addresses literacy in their community, ranging from leading story hour at the local library to partnering with elementary classes to developing activity kits for specific books. Chapters may submit as many awards as they have projects in a given school year.
Feed Nebraska
Join other CTSOs from across Nebraska to help Feed Nebraska. Chapters can work with multiple CTSOs and community organizations to address food insecurity in their school and/or community. Potential project ideas could include raising money to prevent hunger, collecting food items, or supporting a local backpack program. Projects should be completed between August 1, 2025 and January 30, 2026.
State Community Service Project Award
The State Community Service Project Award recognizes the top three (3) chapters in Nebraska that successfully completed the statewide service project! This project encourages chapters to engage with their community by promoting and educating others about a safety initiative. By helping others understand how to stay safe and make responsible choices, your chapter demonstrates leadership while creating a positive impact. This award is scored based on the total service hours contributed and the overall impact and effectiveness of your safety-focused project!
Chapter Award | Chapter Award Options Table
The Chapter Award gives Educators Rising chapters the opportunity to showcase and receive recognition for their exceptional work in four categories: Attend, Communication, Compete & Engage, Membership. Chapters can receive a Bronze, Silver, or Gold award based on how many activities they complete within each category.
Blue and White Affiliation Awards
The Blue and White Chapter Affiliation Awards are designed to encourage Educators Rising members and Teacher Leaders to recruit Educators Rising members from their Education & Training classes. These students often have background knowledge of Ed & Training and have the opportunity to learn about and interact with Educators Rising within the classroom on a regular basis. The level of award will be determined by the following formula:
(# of Educators Rising in Education & Training courses in the current school year / # of affiliated Educators Rising members) x 100.
The following levels will be recognized:
- White Chapter: 50-75%
- Blue Chapter: 76-95%
- Blue & White Chapter: >96%
*NEW! Fall Membership Increase
This award recognizes Nebraska Educators Rising chapters that achieve at least 10% membership growth during the fall semester. Chapters will be acknowledged for their efforts in recruiting and engaging new members to strengthen their chapter. To be eligible, members must be affiliated in the membership portal prior to November 1.
*NEW! Membership Milestone Award
This award recognizes all chapters that have a growth in membership from the previous year, and the three chapters with the highest membership increase will receive additional recognition. Chapters will be acknowledged for their efforts in recruiting and engaging members to grow Educators Rising. To be eligible, members must be affiliated by February 1 and have no outstanding balances in the membership portal.
Member Awards
Education & Training Achievement Awards
These awards recognize students in Education & Training courses who have been active members of Educators Rising for at least two (2) years. There are two levels of recognition for this award:
- Rising Concentrators are sophomores, juniors, or seniors who have successfully completed or are currently enrolled in both Teaching as a Profession (formerly Introduction to Education) and Lifespan Development (formerly Human Growth & Development), introductory courses in the Education & Training Program of Study. Students must have also been affiliated Educators Rising members for at least two (2) years.
- Concentrators are juniors or seniors who have successfully completed or are currently enrolled in both Best Practices in Education & Training and Education & Training Practicum, the intermediate and capstone courses (respectively) in the Education & Training Program of Study. Students must have also been affiliated Educators Rising members for at least two (2) years.
Member of the Year
This award honors an exceptional Nebraska Educators Rising member whose outstanding contributions have made a significant impact at the local, state, and/or national level(s). Members will be recognized for their involvement, leadership, and dedication to Educators Rising throughout the past year (February 1, 2025-January 30, 2026). Current State Officers are not eligible for this award. The application for this award should be completed by the member’s Teacher Leader, and only one (1) member per chapter can be nominated annually.
*NEW! Spark Award
This award recognizes first-year Nebraska Educators Rising members who have demonstrated active participation and engagement in Educators Rising during the 2025-26 school year. Members will be acknowledged for their enthusiasm, involvement, and commitment to getting involved as they begin their leadership journey. To apply, students must complete the Spark Award form and obtain a signature from their Teacher Leader.
*NEW! Membership Trailblazer Award
This award recognizes individual members who successfully recruit at least three (3) new members to their chapter.
Adult & Teacher Leader Awards
*NEW! Teacher Leader RISE Award
This award recognizes teacher leaders who go above and beyond to support the needs of their chapter with student leadership, professional growth, chapter engagement, and advocacy. Teacher leaders will self-report at least 50 points (or 10 activities) that they, their member(s), or chapter have accomplished from February 1, 2025 – January 30, 2026.
Teacher Leader of the Year
This award honors an exceptional Nebraska Teacher Leader whose outstanding contributions and leadership have made a significant impact on their chapter members. The application for this award should be completed by a member of the Teacher Leader’s chapter.
School Administrator of the Year
Exceptional school administrators encourage chapters and help students take advantage of the opportunities offered. The School Administrator of the Year Award recognizes and honors local administrators who champion the local chapter, encourage students to pursue opportunities, and provide overwhelming support to the Teacher Leader.
Outstanding Alumni Award
The Outstanding Alumni Award honors an Educators Rising alumnus who have consistently supported Nebraska Educators Rising and their local chapter after high school. Nominees must no longer be high school students and must have been inactive members of your chapter for at least one year to be eligible.