Aspiring Educators Conference

The 6th Annual National GramAE Awards applications are NOW OPEN!

The GramAE Awards Ceremony is an awards ceremony to celebrate the hard work of Aspiring Educators, State Organizers, Chapter Advisors, and elevate the advocacy of work supporting pre-service educators. The awards ceremony takes place annually at the NEA Aspiring Educators Conference.

Nominate yourself, another Aspiring Educator, chapter and state programs, a Chapter Advisor, a State Organizer, and—NEW THIS YEAR— HBCU/MSI Aspiring Educator Chapters!

The deadline to apply is April 15, 2026.

Be sure you're fully meeting the criteria of the award you're submitting for by checking out the rubric and description for the award type that you are submitting for here.

Apply Now

There are 12 awards this year. Read on to learn more:

Individual Awards

Outstanding Local Leader Award

The Outstanding Local Leader Award highlights an individual who has acted as an integral leader in building their local chapter to achieve excellence. This leader has achieved, demonstrated, and inspired outstanding leadership to their local Aspiring Educators chapter. Nominees for this award must be in at least their second year of Aspiring Educators leadership and currently hold a leadership role at the local level.

Friend of AE Award

The Friend of AE Award recognizes an individual, group, or organization, who have had a positive impact on the Aspiring Educators program within the past year. Nominees cannot be NEA national governance or national/state Association staff. State affiliate governance are eligible to be nominated for this award.

Outstanding State Leader Award

The Outstanding State Leader Award highlights an individual who has acted as an integral leader in building their state chapter to achieve excellence. This leader has achieved, demonstrated, and inspired outstanding leadership to their state Aspiring Educators chapter. Nominees for this award must be in at least their second year of Aspiring Educators leadership and currently hold a leadership role at the state level.

Emerging Leader Award

The Emerging Leader Award recognizes an individual who has shown outstanding initiative and dedication in engaging with local and/or state leaders to better their local and/or state organization within their first year serving in an Aspiring Educator leadership role (local, state, or national).

Chapter Awards

Emerging Chapter Award

The Emerging Chapter Recognition Award highlights the work of emerging chapters (local chapters within the first year of charter) and how they engage their members in practicing the NEA Aspiring Educator Core Values (educator quality, community engagement, political action, and social justice).

Local Excellence Award

The Local Excellence Recognition Award highlights the work of local chapters and how they engage their members in practicing the NEA Aspiring Educator Core Values (educator quality, community engagement, political action, and social justice).

Outstanding Community College Chapter Award  

The Outstanding Community College Award recognizes the work of a community college chapter that demonstrates the practices of the NEA Aspiring Educator Core Values (educator quality, community engagement, political action, and social justice).

Distinguished Local Advisor Award

The Distinguished Local Advisor Award recognizes an individual for their dedication and service to the NEA Aspiring Educators by serving as a Chapter Advisor at the local level.

Outstanding HBCU/MSI Chapter Award *NEW 2026

The Outstanding HBCU/MSI Chapter Award recognizes the work of a chapter at a Historically Black College/ University or Minority-Serving Institution that demonstrates the practices of the NEA Aspiring Educator Core Values (educator quality, community engagement, political action, and social justice).

State Awards

State Excellence Award

The State Excellence Recognition Award highlights the work of exceptional Aspiring Educator state affiliates and how they engage their members in practicing the NEA Aspiring Educator Core Values (educator quality, community engagement, political action, and social justice).

Distinguished State Organizer Award

The Distinguished State Organizer Award recognizes an individual for their exceptional dedication and service to the NEA Aspiring Educators through their role as the State-Wide Organizer. 

Other Awards

Project of the Year Award

The Project of the Year Award recognizes Aspiring Educators within a state or local who are in progress or have completed a project that aligns and meets the goals of NEA Aspiring Educator Core Values (educator quality, community engagement, political action, and social justice).

Join us for the 2026 Aspiring Educators Conference

Aspiring Educators meet each year at the end of June before NEA's Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly. The 2026 Aspiring Educators Conference will be held in Denver, Colorado, from June 28 - July 1, 2026. Registration for the Aspiring Educators Conference will open in May 2026.

The purpose of the Aspiring Educators Conference is to offer future educators the opportunity to connect with their colleagues, learn about their profession, and act on important education issues affecting public schools and communities.

The conference is designed to support experiential learning that provides opportunities for NEA Aspiring Educators members and leaders to develop the knowledge and skills articulated in the NEA Leadership Competency Framework and to highlight and embody the Aspiring Educators Core Values.

Aspiring Educators attending the conference seek learning and information (such as, advocacy, social and emotional learning, and classroom practice) to take home and share with other members and their communities. 

Note: The Aspiring Educators Conference is for NEA members and leaders, regardless of experience level, membership type, or educator category.