Awards & Programs

In order to recognize outstanding, high quality, research in the field of rural education, the National Rural Education Association sponsors the Stanley A. Brzezinski Memorial Rural Education Research Award. This award, funded by the Brzezinski family, will be awarded for educational research, which addresses significant rural issues and makes notable contributions to the knowledge base of rural education. Research addressing rural education issues is paramount to the selection process. All rural education researchers are eligible to be nominated or to self-nominate for the award. The research could include, but is not limited to, issues of rural school efficiency and effectiveness, rural students’ learning and development, financing rural schools, rural poverty, the rural economy, student/rural community expectations, understanding the diversity of rural administrators, or alternative instructional and organizational patterns for rural education. The research project judged most meritorious will receive the award, and the author will be recognized at the NREA national convention.

The Foundation Board of Trustees gives a yearly award to a current member of the NREA who has served for a minimum of five years and has given significant contributions in service to the NREA as well as to his/her local rural school district, state, or the nation in the field of rural education.

The NREA annually solicits nominations for the HERO Award from the NREA State Affiliates, the NREA Membership, the NREA Legislative Committee, and the National Rural Education Advocacy Coalition. Nominees are presented to the Legislative Committee prior to the NREA annual convention, and the Committee, with advice from the NRE Advocacy Coalition, recommends the nominee(s) to receive the NREA Hero Award. The NREA presents this prestigious award at the National Convention.