IAACE Award Nominations Now Open: Recognize Excellence in Adult Education!

As members of the Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education (IAACE), we understand the transformative power of adult education. It’s a journey of empowerment, growth, and discovery that changes lives, strengthens communities, and creates opportunities. Now is the time to shine a spotlight on those who make this journey possible—the dedicated educators, innovative programs, and outstanding learners who exemplify the very best of our field.

Award Nominations: Celebrate Excellence

We are thrilled to announce that nominations for the IAACE Awards are now open! This is your chance to recognize the exceptional contributions of your peers, mentors, and students who have significantly impacted adult education. Whether they are inspiring teachers, visionary administrators, or resilient learners, we want to hear their stories and celebrate their achievements.

Award Categories

We have several award categories designed to highlight different aspects of excellence in adult education:

Business and Industry Partnership Award

A nominee is a person or organization that contributes to adult education. Perhaps that business goes above and beyond with monetary support or collaborates with your organization on programming that allows your organization to exceed the expectations of your adult learners or overperform on measurements.

Outstanding Essential Support Staff

The nominee is a current IAACE member working in adult education. They have at least two years of experience in a staff support position. This individual often goes above and beyond the call of duty. This nominee over-delivers and consistently meets the expectations of the team they support.

Outstanding New Adult Educator

The nominee is a current IAACE member working in adult education. They have at least one year of experience and not more than four years of experience as an adult educator. This educator outperforms daily for their adult learners. They surpass the expectations of their administrator. They respect their adult learners, and their adult learners respect them; they create a sense of community in their classroom, are enthusiastic and caring, set high expectations of their adult learners, and have their own love of learning. They have great leadership skills, are flexible, collaborate with colleagues, and maintain professionalism. They are natural at this teaching thing!

Outstanding Adult Educator

The nominee is a current IAACE member working in adult education. They have a minimum of five years as an adult educator. This educator outperforms daily for their adult learners. They surpass the expectations of their administrator. They respect their adult learners, and their adult learners respect them. They create a sense of community in their classroom, are enthusiastic and caring, set high expectations of their adult learners, and have their own love of learning. They have great leadership skills, can shift gears in and out of the classroom, collaborate with colleagues, and maintain professionalism. They are natural at this teaching thing!

Outstanding Administrator/Coordinator/Director

This nominee is a current member of IAACE and is currently working in adult education. The nominee has at least three years of experience as an administrator, coordinator, or director. This nominee is an excellent administrator, an instructional leader with strong ethics, a dynamic personality, and an unyielding commitment to their adult learners and their team. In their pursuit of excellence, they are an excellent listener, adept at assessing the strengths and weaknesses of diverse individuals, programs, and processes. They are committed to learning, self-aware, and have superb communication skills. They are resourceful and collaborators. They walk the walk and talk the talk to lead by example daily.

Outstanding Tutor/Volunteer

This nominee does not have to be a member of IAACE but must have at least one year of volunteering in adult education or literacy. They have shown outstanding dedication and commitment to adult education/literacy in Indiana. They have a strong work ethic and community-building skills. They communicate effectively and have superior listening skills. Their friendliness and approachability assist you, your organization, and your learners in going above and beyond.

Outstanding Adult Learner of the Year

This nominee does not have to be a member of IAACE but, ideally, should be in your program for at least one year. The outstanding adult learner has good study habits and organizational skills. This nominee has changed their life with education. They are an inspiration to you and others.

Dr. John R. Craddock Award

Lifetime Service to Adult Education in Indiana

To recognize and honor those who have committed a lifetime of service to adult education in Indiana. The award is named after Dr. John R. Craddock, an early leader in adult education in Indiana. He served as the first editor of “The Adult Educator,” the official newsletter of the Indiana Association for Adult Education, was an officer for several years in the Adult Education Association of Indiana, and was instrumental in the merger of these two organizations into the Indiana Association of Adult and Continuing Education (IAACE). In 1962, Dr. Craddock took a year’s leave of absence from his position as Assistant Professor of Education at Ball State University to establish the Division of Adult Education in the Indiana Department of Public Instruction, later named the Indiana Department of Education. This award honors Dr. Craddock’s contributions to Adult Education in Indiana. The IAACE Board of Directors gives this award.

How to Nominate

Nominating someone for an IAACE Award is simple. Follow these steps:

1. Complete the Nomination Form: Visit //iaace.com/iaace-award-nominations-2024/ and complete the nomination form for the award category. Provide detailed information about the nominee and their contributions to adult education.

2. Submit Supporting Materials: Include relevant documentation, such as letters of recommendation, testimonials, or examples of the nominee’s work, to support your nomination.

3. Submit Your Nomination: Once you’ve completed the form and gathered your supporting materials, submit your nomination online.

Nomination Deadline

All nominations must be submitted by Friday, August 16, 2024. We encourage you to take this opportunity to recognize those who go above and beyond in adult education.

Join Us in Celebrating Excellence

The IAACE Awards are more than just accolades—they are a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion that drive our community forward. By nominating someone, you are helping to highlight the incredible stories and achievements that make adult education a beacon of hope and opportunity for so many.

Let’s come together to celebrate the outstanding individuals and programs that make a difference every day. Nominate someone today and help us honor the best in adult education!

For more information and to submit your nomination, visit iaace.com/iaace-award-nominations-2024/.

The Award Ceremony will be held at Belterra Resort Center Stage Showroom on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.

Together, we can continue to inspire and support excellence in adult education.

Jenn Wigginton

Jenn is the IAACE Executive Director. Her passion for adult education shines through in everything she does for IAACE. You can invite her to a chat for questions anytime. Click here to book a time to chat with Jenn