The College of Education will honor distinguished graduates in five categories at its annual Homecoming Brunch on November 15. The intent of the awards is to honor graduates of the College of Education who have distinguished themselves through scholarly, creative and humanitarian achievement and service to their profession. These awards recognize outstanding achievements of COE graduates in five categories:

• Business and Industry: The nominee should be currently employed in business and industry and should have demonstrated exemplary contributions toward improving the educational quality within their community through activities such as: serving on school boards, district boards, district advisory committees, providing special assistance to enhance the capacity of the educational system through release time, mentorships, partners for excellence or similar activities.


• Elementary or Secondary Schools: The nominee should have at least 10 years of experience as a classroom teacher, an administrator, special service personnel (e.g., guidance counselor, media specialist, special area teacher or any combination thereof. This experience may have been gained from any area or grade level from kindergarten to grade 12 in either a public or private school system. Nominees must have received recognition for teaching ability; service; and/or contributions to students, colleagues, the school community, the education profession and/or the community at large. This may include but is not limited to involvement with student activities; involvement with parents or other support groups; participation in professional and civic organizations and activities; and presentations or publications at the local, state and/or national levels.


• Postsecondary Systems: (University and Community College levels; two awards may be given in this category: one for a distinguished graduate serving at the university level and one for an individual accomplished at the community college level) The nominee should currently hold or has held a teaching or leadership position with a local, state or national professional educational organization; a post-secondary educational institution; or educational policy-making/review board. He/she must have published articles, chapters, a book and/or a technical report that reflects scholarship, research or advancement of profession. He/she must serve or have served as a representative/spokesperson of the profession in policy making with professional or political association at the state or national level.


• Government and Community Service: The nominee should be actively involved in government and/or community service and should have demonstrated exemplary contribution toward improving the educational quality within their community through enhancing the capacity of the educational system. Examples of activities may include: exemplary military service; government service at local, state and/or national levels (i.e. county commission, legislative staff); support for broad-based educational or school improvement plans; or community-school partnership activities.


• Distinguished Educator: The Distinguished Educator category should honor outstanding achievements in any area of level of education. The nominee should have demonstrated a strong commitment to students and life-long learning, and enhancing his/her professional growth and that of others. The nominee should also have the respect of peers and significant service contributions to the field of education at any level in either a teaching or administrative capacity and to the betterment of his/her community.

All nominees MUST be graduates of the Florida State University College of Education to be eligible. If at all possible, nominations should be submitted online.

Please be prepared to submit the following information in the online form:

• Names and contact information of both nominating and nominated persons
• Statement of nomination of 100 words or less that includes accomplishments of nominee and qualifications related to respective award
• Current curriculum vitae or resume of nominee
• Three additional references who may be contacted (contact information must be included)
• Any documentation further supporting nominee's accomplishments and qualifications for the award (other letters of support, announcement of other recognitions, etc.)

Click here to submit nomination(s) online.

A printed nomination form can be obtained by calling 850-644-8823.