Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday a new awards program recognizing educators and advocates who promote Texas history and patriotism.
The Gubernatorial Historic Promotion and Patriotism Awards will honor those advancing the state’s historical education through teaching, storytelling, and community engagement. The initiative builds on the 1836 Project, created through House Bill 2497, which Abbott signed into law in 2021 to promote patriotic education and ensure Texans understand the values and events that shaped the state’s identity.
“We must always remember the men and women who bravely defended our state and country,” Abbott said in a press release. “Texans who educate future generations understand the principles and values our soldiers courageously defended.”
The program features two award categories:
- Individual Excellence — honoring long-term contributions by educators and advocates
- Project Innovation — recognizing recent creative initiatives that interpret, preserve, or promote Texas’s historical and cultural heritage
Dr. Don Frazier, chair of the Texas 1836 Project Advisory Committee, said many contributors go unnoticed.
“There is a lot of great work going on across our state, and so much of it goes unrecognized,” Frazier said. “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 that educators remain at the heart of the initiative.
“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,” Crimm said.
Nominations opened November 6 and will remain open through January 31, 2026. Winners in each category will receive formal recognition and a $5,000 prize at an annual ceremony in Austin.
For nomination guidelines and more information, visit tea.texas.gov/1836project.