Governor Greg Abbott, along with the 1836 Project Advisory Committee, has introduced the Gubernatorial Historic Promotion and Patriotism Awards. This new annual program aims to honor Texas educators and advocates who have made notable contributions in promoting Texas 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, added: “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 also commented: “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 focus on individuals advancing historical promotion through education, storytelling, or community engagement. There are two main categories: Individual Excellence, which honors long-term contributions by educators or advocates of Texas history; and Project Innovation, which recognizes recent initiatives that creatively interpret 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. Winners will receive formal recognition in Austin as well as a monetary prize.
The creation of these awards follows House Bill 2497 passed in 2021 by the Texas Legislature, which established the 1836 Project as an advisory body dedicated to promoting patriotic education statewide.
For more information about nomination guidelines for these awards, visit tea.texas.gov/1836project.
