Edward Zigler Innovation Award

Scholarships & Awards

Since Head Start's inception in 1965, Dr. Edward Zigler played a central role.

This award honors Dr. Ziglers memory by celebrating local programs who have partnered to create high impact services for children and families. This award requires a joint application from both the Head Start grant recipient and the community partner.

The nominee must:

Be a Head Start or Early Head Start grant recipient and include a community partner in the application. The partnership will demonstrate innovation in program design and/or service delivery.
Provide two letters of reference from two organizational leaders who know the impact of the partnership first hand (Note: These two letters must come from leaders outside both the program and the community partner.)
Submit a supporting statement to address the following:
- A description of the primary and partner agency involved in the delivery of services, including demographic information, and history in the local community
- A brief description of the specific innovation, the approach, and names of all partners
- A brief description of the outcomes or impact of the effort on vulnerable children and families that are unique and/or go beyond Head Start's performance standards
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

Past Edward Zigler Innovation Award Recipients

2022-23: Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners Head Start, Miami, FL

2021-22: Community Action Partnership, Decatur, AL

2020-21: Community Partnership for Child Development, Colorado Springs, CO

2019-20: Orange County Head Start, Orange County, CA

2018-19: Pocono Services for Families and Children, Tobyhanna, PA

2017-18: Skagit/Islands Head Start & ECEAP, Mount Vernon, WA

2016-17: North Idaho College Head Start, Coeur d'Alene, ID

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