Congratulations 2024-2025 Award Recipients!

Golden Acorns (Outstanding Volunteers): Cassi McDougall, Kushbu Kumbhar, and Tara Kyle

Outstanding Educators: Nicole Cefalu, Sarah Morris, and Stephen Harvey

About PTA Awards

The WSPTA offers multiple opportunities for local PTAs or councils to recognize the efforts of volunteers in their community. These awards give recognition for service and involvement furthering the efforts and effectiveness of PTA. WSPTA encourages a local PTA or council to award any of the recognition options listed below to a PTA member. Each February, our PTA notifies our membership when award nominations are due, typically the end of March. Awards are presented at our general membership meeting each April. Please contact the awards committee with questions or nominations.

Congratulations to our 2023-2024

Mill Creek Elementary Award Recipients!

Congratulations to our 2022-2023

Mill Creek Elementary Award Recipients!

Individual Awards ~ Local PTA and Council Levels

Golden Acorn Award

A Golden Acorn award is presented by a PTA local unit or council to a school or community volunteer in recognition of his or her dedication and service to children and youth. Since the beginning of this program in the 1930s, more than 54,000 Golden Acorn awards have been presented to volunteers throughout Washington State. Recipients receive a certificate and pin, and a contribution is made in their name to the Washington State PTA Scholarship program.

Outstanding Student Advocate Award

Advocacy Awards

Outstanding Advocate Award

The WSPTA Outstanding Advocate Award was established in 2004 to recognize an individual for his or her statewide advocacy and commitment in helping to create strong policies relating to the health, welfare, safety and education of children and youth. The individual should have furthered WSPTA’s policy positions (legislative principles, resolutions, and legislative issues) by activities such as, but not limited to, submitting policy positions, testifying on policy positions on behalf of WSPTA, or representing WSPTA on workgroups or coalitions.

Outstanding Educator Award

The new millennium began a new tradition for Washington State PTA. A unique award was created to recognize individuals who make significant contributions that enhance the education of children. The Outstanding Educator award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding educational contributions. An educator may be defined as a teacher, assistant, specialist, support staff, administrator or community member. Recipients receive a certificate and pin, and a contribution is made in their name to the Washington State PTA Scholarship program.

Service Awards

Outstanding Service Award

The WSPTA Outstanding Service Award was added in 1962, building on the success of the Golden Acorn Award program. This award recognizes statewide service to children. It is awarded to an individual who has given dedicated and long-term volunteer service that positively impacts every child throughout Washington state while demonstrating the WSPTA core values.

This award may not be given by a local PTA, but a local PTA can recommend a candidate to its council or to the WSPTA board of directors.

Honorary Life Membership Award

The WSPTA Honorary Life Membership Award recognizes an individual who has contributed significantly to the development, growth, and sustainability of WSPTA at the state level. It is awarded to someone who has shown extraordinary commitment to WSPTA’s vision and mission.

This award may also be given by a local PTA or council to honor an individual who has made significant contributions to the development and growth of the local PTA or council.