Awards and Recognition Program
Recognizing Excellence in Science Teaching and Learning
NSTA Awards recognize exceptional individuals for their accomplishments and outstanding work in the science education field.
Thanks to our generous sponsors, more than $100,000 in cash and prizes is available yearly.
We offer 14 award programs, designed for all grade levels, and awards that recognize informal educators, researchers, engineering educators, new teachers and more.
Submission Deadline: December 21
Awards
Angela Award
Honors a female student in grades 5–8 with a strong connection to science
Corteva Agriscience Excellence in Agricultural Science Education Award
Recognize excellence and innovation in the field of agricultural science education
Distinguished Informal Science Education Awards
Honors extraordinary contributions to the advancement of science education in an informal or nontraditional school setting
Distinguished Service to Science Education Awards
Honors extraordinary contributions to the advancement of education in the sciences and science teaching
Distinguished Teaching Awards
Extraordinary contributions to the field of science teaching
Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers
Provides teachers in their first five years of teaching with funds to attend the annual National Conference on Science Education
Northrop Grumman Foundation Excellence in Engineering Education Award
Recognizes excellence in the field of engineering education

NSTA Fellow Award
Recognizes NSTA members who have made extraordinary contributions to science education
NSTA Legacy Award
Posthumously recognizes long-standing members of NSTA for significant lifelong service to NSTA and contributions to science education
Robert E. Yager Exemplary Teaching Award
Recognizes teachers who successfully use innovation and excellence in their classroom
Robert H. Carleton Award
NSTA’s highest honor, recognizes one individual who has made outstanding contributions to, and provided leadership in, science education at the national level and to NSTA in particular
Shell Science Teaching Award
Recognizes a teacher who has had a positive impact through exemplary classroom science teaching
Deadline for submission is December 21, 2023
Shell Urban Science Educators Development Award
Awards seven diverse educators in pursuit of professional development, and serves to increase the science educator talent pool of minority educators
Deadline for submission is December 21, 2023
Sylvia Shugrue Award for Elementary School Teachers
Honors an elementary school teacher who has established an interdisciplinary, inquiry-based lesson plan