This award is designed to recognize hard work toward membership increases and is given to locals and UniServ units that demonstrate growth. Membership numbers between September 1st – December 1st will be used to determine the percentage of membership growth.

The Fitz Turner Commission honors individuals or groups who have fostered positive relationships in your education community and helped to encourage leadership development. There are three categories for recognition: the Fitz Turner Award for Outstanding Contributions in Intergroup Relations, the Mary Hatwood Futrell Award for Distinguished Leadership in Education and the Barbara Johns Youth Award for Human Relations & Civil Rights. Learn more and submit your nomination here.

Nominations are due January 16, 2026. 

A newly created award intended to recognize an individual whose actions have contributed significantly to the advancement of public education legislation/policy, or to the election of public education friendly candidates in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Nominations are due January 26, 2026.

Make Your Nomination Here

This is the highest award VEA offers for teaching excellence in the Commonwealth. The winner earns $750 and becomes Virginia's nominee for the NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence. Click here.

Nominations are due January 5, 2026.

Has your local Association organized a community event? Helped out in a community fund drive? Cleaned up a neighborhood park or school? Held a reading or other education activity as part of a community festival? Helped advocate for a cause in partnership with a civic organization? The Communications/Public Relations Committee wants to know about your "good neighbor" deeds and advocacy.

This award honors outstanding work in the areas of impact on students, impact on families and the community, Union engagement and activism, with a focus on ESP workforce issues, and the impact on colleagues.

Submit Your Nomination Here

Download the ESP of the Year Nomination Packet

Nominations are due January 8, 2026.

This is VEA's highest honor, presented by the VEA Board of Directors, and recognizes an individual or organization whose leadership, actions, and support have significantly benefited education, education employees, or students in Virginia.

An individual recipient need not be a Virginian, but he or she should reflect the philosophy and principles of the VEA. Individual nominees may be public officials or private citizens, and selection of finalists will be made regardless of age, sex, race, color, or creed.

Nominations are due January 2, 2026.

The VEA Fund Award for Political Activism recognizes local VEA affiliates for outstanding achievement in the area of political organizing & activism.

Application must be submitted by Monday, January 26, 2026

Apply Here

This honors retired members who have made significant contributions to the growth of the active and retired Association, in the promotion of public education, and for the welfare of educators. Winners must have been members of VEA-Retired for at least five consecutive years as of January 15 of the award year, and this award can be given posthumously.