Governor Greg Abbott, together with the 1836 Project Advisory Committee, has announced the creation of the Gubernatorial Historic Promotion and Patriotism Awards. This new annual program aims to recognize Texas educators and advocates who have made significant contributions to promoting the state’s 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 will highlight individuals advancing this mission through education, storytelling, or community engagement. The two main categories are Individual Excellence—honoring long-term contributions by educators or advocates—and Project Innovation—recognizing 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 members of the 1836 Project Advisory Committee, which consists of historians, educators, and preservation experts from around Texas. Winners will receive formal recognition at an annual ceremony in Austin as well as a monetary prize.
The establishment of these awards follows House Bill 2497 passed in 2021 by the Texas Legislature https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB2497, which created the 1836 Project to support patriotic education throughout Texas.
More information about nomination guidelines can be found at tea.texas.gov/1836project.
