Show your appreciation for dedicated volunteers, professionals and groups with our PTA service-awards recognition program.
HONORARY SERVICE AWARDS RECOGNIZE ACHIEVEMENTS
Honorary Service Awards are awarded throughout the year and designed as a unique way for PTA units, councils, and districts to publicly acknowledge both individuals and organizations for outstanding community service to children and youth in a community. All funds collected with this program are used exclusively to support the California State PTA scholarship and grant programs.
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This program offers six distinctive types of awards:
- Very Special Person Award (VSP) – This award is given to recognize an individual or organization for their service to PTA. An award certificate and pin are available with a contribution of $25 or more by a PTA unit, council or district.
- Honorary Service Award (HSA) – This award is given to recognize an individual or organization for outstanding service to children and youth in your community, going above and beyond what is asked of them. An award certificate and pin are available with a contribution of $40 by a PTA unit, council or district in the name of the recipient.
- Continuing Honorary Service Award (CHSA) – This award is given to recognize an individual or organization for ongoing or long-time service to children and youth, providing support year after year. An award certificate and pin are available with a contribution of $45 by a PTA unit, council or district in the name of the recipient.
- Outstanding Teacher Award (OTA) – This award may be given to recognize a teacher for outstanding service to children and youth through PTA, school, or community. An award certificate and pin are available with a contribution of $40 by a PTA unit, council or district in the name of the recipient.
- Outstanding Administrator Award (OAA) – This award may be given to recognize an administrator for outstanding service to children and youth through PTA, school, or the community. An award certificate and pin are available with a contribution of $40 by a PTA unit, council or district in the name of the recipient.
- Golden Oak Service Award (GOSA) – This award is given to recognize, as the most prestigious of the Honorary Service Awards, an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to the welfare of children and youth in a school or community. An award certificate and pin are available with a contribution of $85 by a PTA unit, council or district in the name of the recipient.
In addition, In Memoriam or Tribute Donations awards are issued when donations of $10 or more are made by PTAs or by individuals in tribute to a person, a group or in memoriam.
- Donations are another way to make a financial contribution to California State PTA; honor an individual for service; as a tribute to a person who has already received an HSA; as a tribute to an organization or group of people for service given; or, in memoriam.
- Donors may specify the use of the funds by California State PTA for scholarships, grants, leadership outreach or another area of their choice on the application form, In Memoriam or Tribute Donation.
- An acknowledgment card or a certificate suitable for framing, as requested, will be issued in the name of the recipient
ELECTED OFFICIAL HONORARY SERVICE AWARD (EOHSA)
The Elected Official Honorary Service Award (EOHSA) is given to recognize elected officials who demonstrate outstanding support for children, families, and public education through their legislative actions and community engagement. Please review the eligibility and award criteria before placing your order.
Eligibility: Any currently serving elected official, including: state officials or legislators, school board members, city council members, county supervisors, county offices of education officials, or other local elected officials whose work impacts children and families
- Must be voted on by the executive board, and the decision must be documented with specific criteria examples in the PTA minutes
- This award recognizes past actions, not future promises, and is based solely on documented actions supporting the PTA mission
- No consideration of party affiliation, campaign positions, or electoral prospects should be given
- Awards may not be given to anyone who has filed candidacy paperwork with the FPPC (check federal candidates database) or within 90 days of an election
- Cannot be used/listed in campaign materials by an awardee without a disclaimer that PTA does not endorse candidates
Award Criteria (officials must meet at least 3 of these):
- Authored, co-sponsored, or signed legislation that advanced PTA priorities
- Consistently allocated resources that benefited children, families, or schools
- Voted consistently in support of children and education issues
- Engaged meaningfully with PTA members on education policy
- Examples: regularly attended PTA meetings or events, repeatedly participated in education forums, or maintained ongoing dialogue with PTA leaders on policy issues
- Demonstrated sustained responsiveness to PTA concerns and testimony
- Examples: consistently engaged/replied to PTA communications, held multiple meetings with PTA representatives throughout their term, actively sought PTA input on education decisions.
NOTES:
- Eligibility and award criteria will be posted on the California State PTA website
- Kustom Imprint will be asked to put a conditional check box on the order page. Checking the box will indicate that the purchaser has read and will comply with the eligibility and award criteria.
ORDERING AWARDS
Awards may be purchased online at any time. You may also complete a hard-copy order form, downloadable in English. When making a donation in memoriam or tribute in the name of an individual or organization, please use the specific In Memoriam or Tribute Donation Form.
LEGACY AWARDS RECOGNIZE UNITS’ LONGSTANDING DEDICATION
Each spring, California State PTA recognizes PTA units, councils, and districts achieving a special anniversary milestone as a chartered PTA association. When unit, council, and district PTAs in good standing reach these special milestones, they are recognized as Legacy PTAs with a certificate issued by California State PTA:
- 50 years chartered as a PTA
- 60 years chartered as a PTA
- 70 years chartered as a PTA
- 75 years chartered as a PTA
- 80 years chartered as a PTA
- 90 years chartered as a PTA
- 100 years chartered as a PTA
- 110 years chartered as a PTA
- 125 years chartered as a PTA
A Legacy PTA receives a recognition certificate and letter of congratulations from California State PTA, a Legacy PTA ribbon for convention attendees, and recognition at convention for this milestone accomplishment. Awardees that have reached their 100th anniversary as a PTA association is invited to send two representatives to the California State PTA convention to be recognized on-stage and presented with their Legacy PTA certificates by the California State PTA president.
For detailed information just for PTA Leaders on this topic, visit the Leaders’ Website.