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Governor Greg Abbott and the 1836 Project Advisory Committee have announced the start of the Gubernatorial Historic Promotion and Patriotism Awards. This new annual program will recognize Texas educators and advocates who have made significant efforts to promote state history and patriotism.
"We must always remember the men and women who bravely defended our state and country," said Governor Abbott. "Texans who educate future generations understand the principles and values our soldiers courageously defended. These new Gubernatorial Historic Promotion and Patriotism Awards will recognize the important work done by Texans who preserve and promote the history and patriotic knowledge of our great state."
Dr. Don Frazier, Chair of the Texas 1836 Project Advisory Committee, stated, "There is a lot of great work going on across our state, and so much of it goes unrecognized. Community members and hardworking teachers are pouring their lives into the story of our state, and these awards represent our small part in recognizing them for their efforts."
Committee member Dr. Caroline Crimm added, "The Governor's 1836 Project Advisory Committee is particularly proud to honor our teachers and educators who are promoting patriotic education and historical awareness across Texas. Our teachers deserve to receive all the thanks and appreciation that we can bestow."
The awards aim to highlight those advancing this mission through educational activities, storytelling, or community engagement.
Two award categories are offered: Individual Excellence for long-term contributions by educators or advocates of Texas history and patriotism; and Project Innovation for recent initiatives that creatively interpret, preserve, or promote Texas’s historic resources.
Nominations for these awards are open until January 31, 2026. Recipients will be chosen by a committee consisting of historians, educators, and preservation experts from across Texas. The winners will be honored annually in Austin with formal recognition as well as a monetary prize.
The establishment of this awards program follows House Bill 2497 passed in 2021 by the Texas Legislature and signed into law by Governor Abbott. This bill created the 1836 Project Advisory Committee to support patriotic education throughout Texas. More information about nomination guidelines is available at tea.texas.gov/1836project.