Texas Master Gardener Association Search for Excellence Awards Program
The Texas Master Gardener Association (TMGA), in cooperation with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas A&M University System, recognizes and presents awards for exemplary achievement.
How to Write an Impact Statement
Outstanding Individual Master Gardener Entry Form
Outstanding Master Gardener Association Entry Form
Marva E. Beck JMG™ Leader of the Year Entry Form
Texas Search for Excellence Award Entry Form
(Use for Youth-JMG, Youth-Other, Teaching Site, Workshop/Presentation, Written/Recorded Educational Content, Research entries)
Judge’s Feedback on Writing Goals, Collecting Quantitative Data, and Measuring Impact
Download the forms from the links above. All forms are in Word.
Questions? E-mail awards@texasmastergardeners.
The “2023 Awards Year” refers to activities that occurred during the 2023 calendar year. The Texas Master Gardener Association encourages full participation in the Awards Program. All Texas Master Gardener Associations that were “members in good standing” for the 2023 Awards Year are eligible to participate provided their 2023 TMGA dues payments were postmarked by March 1, 2023, and their Charter Documents and Officer/Director Rosters were received by January 31, 2023.
Please refer to the following link to review those requirements and check the 2023 Awards Year eligibility status of your association:
Association Member Eligibility
Awards Submissions will be accepted beginning January 1st, 2024 and closing January 31, 2024 at 10:00pm.
Membership Size Groupings
Associations are grouped by the number of members reported to the TMGA Treasurer with dues payable and remitted during the 2023 Awards Year.
- Group I – Redbud: 1-49 dues paying Texas Master Gardeners
- Group II – Dogwood: 50-99 dues paying Texas Master Gardeners
- Group III – Magnolia: 100-199 dues paying Texas Master Gardeners
- Group IV – Live Oak: 200+ dues paying Texas Master Gardeners
Categories for awards:
The categories for Texas Search for Excellence awards are as follows:
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- Youth-JMG – The Youth category recognizes a Master Gardener program that coordinates Junior Master Gardener groups, activities, and service-learning projects.
- Youth-Other – The Youth-Other category recognizes a Master Gardener program that coordinates non-JMG associated youth activities and service-learning projects.
- Teaching Site – This category recognizes a project which establishes a new, or substantially enhances an existing physical location for educational purposes to display or share best horticulture practices. The teaching site must be fixed or permanent. Some examples of a teaching site are a demonstration garden, a school or community garden, a help desk, or a permanent educational display at an Extension office.
- Workshop-Presentation – This category recognizes an in-person or digital educational program which is a teaching opportunity presented by Master Gardeners to the community to provide educational information about a horticultural topic. The educational program may include workshops, presentations, interactive public engagements, or organized teaching tours, and can be a one-time event or on-going. This category can include digital efforts but is limited to workshops, presentations, or engagements that were delivered in real-time (live). (While we realize that many digital workshops are recorded for viewing afterwards, this category refers to content primarily developed/delivered for a live audience.)
- Written-Recorded Educational Content – This category recognizes any form of print or digital material created, written, recorded, and/or filmed by Master Gardeners as a tool for education. This category includes newsletters, pamphlets, calendars, videos, podcasts, and mass media or social media efforts and can be distributed digitally or in print. (While we realize that many digital workshops are recorded for viewing afterwards, this category refers to content NOT primarily developed/delivered for a live audience.)
- Research – The Research award recognizes a project with applied scientific methodology conducted by Master Gardeners with oversight provided by a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service employee. This entry must be written by the Master Gardeners involved, not by Extension staff.
- Marva E Beck JMG Leader of the Year – This award recognizes one adult, chosen from all submitting associations regardless of size, who demonstrates effective leadership in support of JMG programs in his or her Master Gardener association or county. This adult may be either a Master Gardener or a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service employee. Applicants for this award must be county faculty, staff, or a Master Gardener volunteer, and be affiliated with one or more registered Texas JMG groups. This award is given in the name of Mrs. Marva Beck, 2000 Texas Master Gardener President, for her visionary leadership, initiative, and ability to plant seeds of hope for the gardening youth of Texas. This award is given yearly in her name to commemorate her contributions to the JMG program.
- Outstanding Individual Master Gardener – The Outstanding Individual category recognizes a Master Gardener who is a certified member in good standing within a Master Gardener Association, and whose involvement and contributions during the awards year are of primary importance, although prior year contributions or involvement may also be considered.
- Outstanding Master Gardener Association – This category recognizes a Master Gardener Association that contributed programs and/or projects of significant educational value to the community. The programs and/or projects may be ongoing.
2023 Awards Committee
The 2023 TMGA Awards Committee is comprised of:
Debby Hopkins-Higham, McLennan County (Chair)
Kathryn Wells, Denton County (1st VP Executive Member)
Robin Collins, Galveston County
Louie McDaniel, McLennan County
Wayne Schirner, Bell County (2nd VP Executive Member)
William “Bill” Swantner, Bexar County
Sharon Zaal, Galveston County
The Texas Master Gardener Program State Coordinator is Jayla Fry, and the State Program Assistant is Nicky Maddams.
Please send any questions/concerns to awards@texasmastergardeners.org
2022 Award Winners and Entries
2021 Award Winners and Entries