Aubrey Puckett Memorial Award

Scholarships & Awards

This national staff award in memory of Aubrey Puckett celebrates a Head Start alumna, alumnus, or parent now working for a Head Start or Early Head Start program who demonstrates their passion for serving through advocacy, career growth, and being actively involved in their program, community, or at the state or national level.

Scholarship winners will receive an award of $500 and a commemorative certificate. The nominee must:

Have been enrolled in a Head Start or Early Head Start program as a child or parent for one or more years
Have been a Head Start program employee for at least three years
Provide a letter of reference from two people who know the nominee in their current role
Provide a cover letter addressing the following:
- Key details about the nominee and the nominee's family and connection to Head Start as a child or parent.
- Provide details about program service, including year started, positions held, etc.
- Describe activities and efforts the nominee has made that demonstrate passion for serving through advocacy, career growth, and involvement in the community or at the state/national level to benefit Head Start families
Comply with all NHSA general rules and regulations as listed on the Scholarships & Awards homepage.

Application

Award Nominator

First Name

Last Name

Professional Title

Organization Name

Phone

Regional Contact

First Name

Last Name

Title

Office Phone

Select Award

Aubrey Pucket Award

Individual Nominee First Name

Individual Nominee Last Name

Head Start Program

NHSA Program Member ID

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone (office)

Phone (mobile)

Ron Herdon Award

Individual Nominee First Name

Individual Nominee Last Name

Individual Nominee First Name

Individual Nominee Last Name

Head Start Program

NHSA Program Member ID

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone (office)

Phone (mobile)

Vanessa Rich Award

Individual Nominee First Name

Individual Nominee Last Name

Head Start Program

NHSA Program Member ID

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone (office)

Phone (mobile)

Alumni Scholarship Award

In honor of Head Start’s proven model of success, the National Head Start Alumni Scholarship is a non-renewable merit award to celebrate Head Start student achievement in high school and support students as they begin the next leg of their educational journey.

Scholarship winners will receive an award of $5,000 and a commemorative certificate. Funds must be applied to the documented cost of tuition or books at a 2-year or 4-year institution whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

The nominee must:

Provide proof of enrollment in a Head Start or Early Head Start program as a child for one or more years.
Provide a cover letter with key details about the nominee and the nominee's family and connection to Head Start as a child.
Submit proof of the nominee’s status as a high school senior on target to graduate with at least a 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale or equivalent as indicated on school transcript.
Provide three letters of recommendation (two from academic subject teachers who taught the nominee within the last 2 years and one from a civic/religious organization where the nominee is active).
Provide proof of nominee’s application to at least one 2-year or 4-year academic institution registered by the US Department of Education (proof of enrollment will be required before distribution of funds).
Comply with all NHSA general rules and regulations as listed on the Scholarships & Awards homepage.

Individual Nominee First Name

Individual Nominee Last Name

Head Start Program

NHSA Program Member ID

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone (office)

Phone (mobile)

Ed Zigler Award

Individual Nominee First Name

Individual Nominee Last Name

Program Details

Head Start Program

NHSA Program Member ID

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone (office)

Phone (mobile)

Community Partner Details

Community Partner Name

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone (office)

Phone (mobile)

Sargent Shriver Award

Individual Nominee First Name

Individual Nominee Last Name

Program Details

Head Start Program

NHSA Program Member ID

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone (office)

Phone (mobile)

Community Partner Details

Community Partner Name

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone (office)

Phone (mobile)

Aubrey Pucket Supporting Documents

**Click here for more details about the scholarship requirement

Résumé

Cover Letter

Letter of Recommendation #1

Letter of Recommendation #2

Headshot (jpeg or png)

Completed IRS W-9 Form

Regional or National association, Letter of Support on their letterhead.

Sample letter of support

Additional Comments

Vanessa Rich Supporting Documents

**Click here for more details about the scholarship requirement

Résumé

Cover Letter

Letter of Recommendation #1

Letter of Recommendation #2

Headshot (jpeg or png)

Completed IRS W-9 Form

Regional or National association, Letter of Support on their letterhead.

Sample letter of support

Additional Comments

Ron Herndon Supporting Documents

**Click here for more details about the scholarship requirement

Résumé

Cover Letter

Letter of Recommendation #1

Letter of Recommendation #2

Headshot (jpeg or png)

Completed IRS W-9 Form

Regional or National association, Letter of Support on their letterhead.

Sample letter of support

Additional Comments

Zigler Supporting Documents

**Click here for more details about the scholarship requirement

Organizational Statement

Letter of Recommendation #1

Letter of Recommendation #2

Logo of nominee (jpeg or png)

Logo of Community Partner

Regional or National association, Letter of Support on their letterhead.

Sample letter of support

Additional Comments

Sargent Shriver Supporting Documents

**Click here for more details about the scholarship requirement

Organizational Statement

Letter of Recommendation #1

Letter of Recommendation #2

Logo of nominee (jpeg or png)

Logo of community Partner

Regional or National association, Letter of Support on their letterhead.

Sample letter of support

Additional Comments

Alumni Scholarship Supporting Documents

Proof of Head Start Enrollment

Cover Letter

High School Transcript

Proof of college admission

Academic Letter of Support #1

Academic Letter of Support #2

Civic / Religious Organization Letter of Support

Additional Comments

Meet Natalie Hankins, NHSA’s 2022 Aubrey Puckett Awardee

March 7, 2023 Organizational Alumni

Aubrey Puckett Memorial Awardee Natalie Hankins says “the wonderful and positive outcomes on children and their families” keeps her going.

Past Aubrey Puckett Memorial Award Recipients

2022-23: Judith Baker, Parents in Community Action, Inc., Minneapolis, MN

2021-22: Natalie Hankins, Institute of Community Services, Holly Springs, MS

2020-21: Sherry Day, LEADS, Inc.

2019-20: Trecia Nickerson, Alger Marquette Community Action Board

2018-19: Dorothy Frederick, Community Partnership for Child Development

2017-18: Ammie Joyce, Head Start Child and Family Development Program

2016-17: Adella Arredondo, Denver Great Kids Head Start

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