Awards

•  Kuhn-Barnett Award Program 

  Purpose
  The Kuhn Barnett Award is the highest honor bestowed by VA CEC. Named for the first director of special education in Virginia, this award is presented to a person selected for exemplary and meritorious service on behalf of exceptional children at the state level, and/or service in Virginia Council for Exceptional Children. 

  Recognition
  The selected nominee for the Kuhn-Barnett Award will be recognized for their outstanding leadership and/or service on behalf of exceptional children. For consideration for Kuhn-Barnett Award, nominators should submit a letter of application to the address below. One person will be selected as the Virginia CEC Kuhn-Barnett Award winner. Virginia Council for Exceptional Children will present this award at our annual conference in October. 

  
  Virginia Kuhn-Barnett Award
  c/o Andrea P. Beam, Ed.D.
  Liberty University
  School of Education
  1971 University Blvd.
  Lynchburg, VA 24502

  

•  Mary Turman Memorial Award Program

Program
Mary B. Turman was dedicated to the work of the Virginia Federation CEC and to local chapter 271, Greater Richmond Area. We honor Mary and her outstanding work as a Virginia Special Educator with this grant award to Virginia educators. 

Types of Projects Supported
Monetary grants (approximately $250.00) are made to individuals submitting proposals for a project or item that will serve the needs of students with disabilities from birth-21. In the past, educators have used these awards as a funding source to:

•  Develop and maintain an innovative parent-outreach program.

•  Assist in the development of technological aids for students with communication disabilities.

•  Purchase training materials related to a peer-mentoring program.

Projects must contribute directly to the development and advancement of students. Grant applications to support the personal development of the applicant or for class materials typically supported by the district will not be considered. 

Winners will be awarded their grant via mail. Both individual award winners will also be recognized at VA CEC’s annual conference in October 2008. However, the grantee need not be present to win and no financial assistance can be provided to support the grantee’s participation in the conference. The winners of this grant will be expected to write a short article for the VA Federation Newsletter, The Declaration, to describe their project and how the Mary Turman Grant will be used to support their work.

Grant Proposal Process (the description and justification should not exceed 500 words)

1.         Include name, address, e-mail, telephone (home & work), district name, name of district special education director (if you receive the grant we will send a letter to the director).

2.         Tell us about yourself – how long have you been teaching, what subjects do you teach, anything you would like us to know about you?

3.         Description of your students/class/program/project, including grade level, disability, and nature of program/class/project.

4.         Description and justification of need for monetary grant, including how your obtainment of this grant would impact upon students with disabilities and how you would use this grant. 

Send Proposals to:
Virginia Mary Turman Award
c/o Andrea P. Beam, Ed.D.
Liberty University
School of Education
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24502

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•  Yes I Can! Award Program

Purpose

The Foundation for Exceptional Children established the Yes I Can! Program in 1981 to acknowledge the achievements of children and youth with disabilities; to overcome barriers caused by disabilities or public misconceptions; to encourage children and youth with disabilities to seek their highest potential; and to increase public awareness of the abilities, aspirations, and personal qualities of disabled people. Each year children and youth with disabilities are recognized for their accomplishments through the international Yes I Can! Program.

Recognition

Nominees for the Yes I Can! Award Program will be recognized in one of the following categories:

•  Academics

•  Arts

•  Athletics (to include Motor Skills)

•  Community Service

•  Employment

•  Extracurricular Activities

•  Independent Living Skills (to include Self-Care Skills)

 Virginia Council for Exceptional Children will make state awards at our annual conference. For consideration for the International Yes I Can! Award, nominators should submit an application to the Yes I Can! Foundation via the website: http://yesican.cec.sped.org/ . Thirty-five international award winners will be recognized and given special awards at the International CEC Annual Convention.

ALL NOMINEES FOR THE YES I CAN! AWARD WILL RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT

To nominate candidates for the Virginia YES I CAN! Award, two nominators must complete the attached application form.

Nominees for the Yes I Can! Award Program must be 2-21 years old. Each nominee is eligible in only ONE category. Both nominators must select the same category or nomination will be considered incomplete by the Yes I Can! selection committee. Send nomination forms to:

Virginia YES I CAN! Award
c/o Andrea P. Beam, Ed.D.
Liberty University
School of Education
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24502

Each applicant must be nominated by two people. Each nomination form must be individually completed and should provide specific information about the nominee. A form completed by one person and duplicated as the second form will not be accepted. One of the nominators should be other than a family member. Note: Nominators should take care in completing the nomination form. The more complete and detailed the information, the better.

This material and the certificate are available in alternate format upon request.

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•  Teacher of the Year Award

Purpose
The Teacher of the Year Award recognizes an individual who currently provides services to students with exceptional needs and their families.  The recipient is an outstanding member of the profession whose work exemplifies the best in special education, early childhood special education, or early intervention teaching.  His or her work reflects significant education success for students, continued professional development, and the highest standards of educational quality. 

Nominee Eligibility Requirements

•  Must be teaching in the state of VA for at least three years and in good standing currently

•  Must currently provide direct services to students (ages birth to 21) with exceptionalities

•  Must hold professional certification in the area in which the nominee provides service.

•  The work of the nominee must be consistent with CEC’s mission statement 

The individual will be recognized at VA CEC’s annual conference.

Send to:

Virginia Teacher of the Year Award
c/o Andrea P. Beam, Ed.D.
Liberty University
School of Education
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24502

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•  Creative Teacher Awards for Teachers of Exceptional Children

Northern Virginia Chapter #192 of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) grants Creative Teaching Awards for teachers of exceptional children. Awards, $200.00 each, are available to CEC members who teach in Special and General Education classrooms working directly with exceptional students. 

Award Parameters

1.   The Awards are open to CEC members who teach exceptional children, birth to 21 years, in Northern Virginia.

2.   Educator’s proposal should be for a project or item that will serve the needs of the exceptional children in the teacher’s classroom or program.

3.   Proposals for items that should be purchased by the school or district (i.e., basic class furniture, instructional materials, library books) will not be considered.

4.   Awards are judged on creativity and originality.

5.   All applications must be postmarked no later than April 16, 2009.

6.   Each applicant will be sent a letter concerning his/her status once a decision is made.

The scholarship will be presented to five grantees at the Northern VA CEC Awards reception on May 6, 2008.

Download application for Creative Teacher Award for Teachers of Exceptional Children.

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•  The Jim Wroton Scholarship

The Northern Virginia Chapter #192 of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) offers a $1000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior with a physical disability. The scholarship was established in memory of Jim Wroton, who taught in the Fairfax County Public Schools Physical Disabilities Program for eleven years. The award will be awarded with the following considerations. 

1.   One scholarship will be awarded each year to a student with physical disabilities who will pursue a full-time education program beyond high school.

2.   A committee from the Northern Virginia Chapter #192 of CEC will select the recipient. This committee shall use academic accomplishments, and participation in extra curricular and community activities as the primary criteria.

3.   A secondary priority may be given to an applicant if there is significant financial need. A statement of financial need may be included in the documentation supporting a nominee, but is not required.

4.   To be considered for the scholarship, a completed application package that includes the application, two letters of recommendation, pertinent records, and other candidate information must be submitted by the due date.

5.   A recipient may reapply each year for the length of the educational program up to a maximum of four (4) years.

6.   All applications, supporting information and letters of recommendations must be postmarked no later than April 16, 2009.

7.   Each applicant will be sent a letter concerning his/her status once a decision is made.

8.   The scholarship will be presented to the winner at the Northern VA CEC Awards reception on May 6, 2009.

9.   Scholarship mailing address:
CEC Northern Virginia Chapter #192
Jim Wroton Scholarship
1922 North Quintana Street
Arlington, Virginia 22205 

10.  For general information, please call Lee Hanson at 703-533-0473 or email at Beachwind@aol.com.

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Information: Andrea Beam, Ed.D.
abeam@liberty.edu