The Award of Honor, LeadingAge Texas’s highest award is presented to one distinguished individual who has provided outstanding leadership in creating the future of Aging Services and reinforcing our fundamental values.

Criteria:
• The individual’s imaginative leadership, exceptional service, and commitment to quality are advancing both the association and the aging services field
• Nominee has accomplished significant goals over a substantial period of time
• Nominee’s cumulative, ongoing achievements, and positive impact on the field are notable and worthy of state recognition

Eligibility:
• Individual whose organization is a LeadingAge Texas member are eligible for this award.
• Current LeadingAge Texas board members are not eligible for this award.

The Dr. Herbert Shore Outstanding Mentor Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding abilities in one-on-one teaching and motivating while challenging and developing future leaders in the field of aging services. The award is named for the late Dr. Herbert Shore, a LeadingAge Texas and national founder, past president, Award of Honor recipient and well-known mentor.

Criteria:
• The nomination reflects that the mentor has engaged his or her protégé (s) in Aging Services and fostered their leadership development
• The submission shows the extent of the nominee’s impact as a mentor and is strengthened by testimonials from one or more protégés
• The submission indicates accomplishments of the protégé (s) that have been influenced by the mentor

Eligibility:
Individuals whose organizations are LeadingAge Texas members are eligible for this award.

The LeadingAge Texas Excellence in Advocacy Award recognizes outstanding individuals or organizations advocating tirelessly for aging services at local, state, or national levels while upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct.

Criteria:
• Demonstrates proactive advocacy efforts, encouraging and mobilizing others to champion aging-services issues with policymakers at the local, state, or national level. This includes engaging with the media to raise awareness on crucial aging-related matters
• Provides valuable support and disseminates information on effective strategies for individuals to engage in advocacy for aging issues, empowering and guiding others in their advocacy efforts
• Organizes and galvanizes individuals or groups within the community to collectively advocate for positive changes in aging services, fostering collaboration and unity in advocacy endeavors

Eligibility:
Member organizations or individuals whose organizations are LeadingAge Texas members are eligible for this award.

The Excellence in Board Governance Award is given to voluntary leaders who have served with distinction on the governing board of a LeadingAge Texas member organization and thereby made an outstanding contribution to the well-being of seniors, to the employees who serve them, and to organization’s nonprofit mission.

Criteria:
• Exhibits visionary leadership, driving the advancement of the member community's mission as a dedicated governing board member
• Demonstrates a significant commitment of time, effort, and expertise, going above and beyond in service to the organization
• Displays exceptional service, surpassing the expected duties with a commitment that exceeds ordinary responsibilities
• Shows a history of personal significant financial contributions or exceptional philanthropic acts that substantially advance the organization's mission
• Displays expertise in and receptiveness to adopting best practices in nonprofit governance, contributing to the organization's governance excellence
• Exhibits outstanding leadership in successfully achieving specific objectives and goals crucial to the member organization

Eligibility:
The Excellence in Board Governance Award is open to individuals, past, or present members of the governing board of a LeadingAge Texas member organization.

The Excellence in Community Impact Award celebrates organizations that demonstrate profound and far-reaching effects on the broader community, showcasing exceptional outreach initiatives that extend beyond their organizational boundaries. This accolade honors the commitment of volunteers, leadership, and staff in addressing critical community needs, aligning with the organization's non-profit mission to make a tangible difference in the community at large..

Criteria:
• Demonstrates effective implementation of outreach initiatives addressing recognized needs outside the organization, contributing positively to the broader community
• Exhibits creative, innovative, and effective approaches to solving significant problems prevalent within the greater community
• Reflects a cumulative impact on the community over an extended period, showcasing a history of compassionately addressing community needs
• Deliberately extends the organizational mission to reach and serve underserved individuals or groups within the community
• Demonstrates exceptional philanthropy directed towards underserved populations or addressing recognized community needs

Eligibility:
Organizations who are LeadingAge Texas members are eligible for this award.

The Excellence in Direct-Care Award honors those individuals in direct service, who demonstrate extraordinary talent, expertise, and dedication in provision of exceptional service and life enrichment to residents.

Criteria:
• Demonstrates prolonged excellence in providing services that significantly enhance residents' daily quality of life
• Goes beyond established role boundaries, consistently delivering exceptional care that surpasses standard expectations
• Exhibits a personal commitment beyond the norm, dedicating additional efforts to enhance residents' lives within the community
• Nurtures meaningful relationships as a sincere expression of care
• Excelling while collaborating effectively as a supportive team member, contributing positively to collective success
• Demonstrates exceptional dedication to resident-centered care, valuing and supporting resident choice and autonomy
• Displays extraordinary problem-solving skills, addressing challenges with the highest standards of service and compassion
• Possesses the ability to inspire team members toward heightened commitment to service excellence

Eligibility:
Non-managerial frontline, direct service employees of any department within a LeadingAge Texas member community.

The Excellence in Innovation Award recognizes organizations that exemplify pioneering approaches and forward-thinking strategies, fostering innovation across their operations and practices.

Criteria:
• The nominee's ethos and practices actively foster innovative thinking and a culture open to change and new ideas
• Demonstrates a willingness to embrace new ideas, take calculated risks, and conduct honest assessments of experimental results
• Shows a dedication to collaboration and continual learning, fostering an environment conducive to innovation
• The innovation initiated by the nominee has significantly transformed operations or generated positive outcomes for the organization and stakeholders
• The innovation showcases potential applicability and transferability to address the needs and challenges faced by other aging-services organizations

Eligibility:
• Organizations who are LeadingAge Texas members are eligible for this award.

The Excellence in Leadership Award recognizes those individuals, regardless of their role within the organization, who demonstrate leadership within their team that is impactful, effective, motivational, and consistent.

Criteria:
• Individual has a history of exceptional leadership that has facilitated, encouraged, or motivated other employees to deliver expanded benefits to residents.
• Commitment to personal and professional development.
• Capacity to form harmonious and influential relationships with coworkers throughout the organization.
• Significant contribution to improving quality within the organization.
• Steadfast commitment “above and beyond the call of duty” to assist and encourage others.
• Distinguished record of service, dedication and caring; a leadership role model.
• A mentor known to share knowledge and experience generously for the purpose of motivating others to higher levels of performance.
• Willingness to go “above and beyond” the conventional parameters of an established role for the sake of helping and inspiring others.

Eligibility:
• This award is given to an employee from any organizational level within a LeadingAge Texas member community.

The Outstanding Young Professional Award celebrates individuals under the age of 40 who significantly influence the aging services field in Texas. These dynamic professionals inject fresh ideas, spearhead pioneering projects, and infuse the industry with vibrant energy that directly enhances the lives of older adults in their community.

Criteria:
• Exhibits a strong ambition for career advancement, dedicating time and effort to acquiring knowledge and experience, preparing for future leadership roles within aging services
• Demonstrates enthusiasm and vitality, fostering new perspectives and injecting vitality into the aging services sector
• Displays a willingness and capability to mentor emerging professionals, actively fostering the growth of others while advocating for the industry's professional advancement
• Successfully assumes and showcases competence in expanding roles within their organization

Eligibility:
This award is open to individuals under the age of 40 employed at any level within a LeadingAge Texas member community.