Commission on Adult Basic Education (COABE)
Awards Luncheon, Incentive Grants, and Scholarships

The following awards will be presented at the Commission on Adult Basic Education (COABE) Awards Luncheon on Monday, April 18, 2011 from 12:25–1:40 p.m.  Awards luncheon is open to all registered conference attendees, preregister for only $15.00.
  1. Edgar M. Easley Award to the Outstanding Teacher of the Year
    The Edgar M. Easley Award is given to a practitioner with five or more years of adult education teaching experience that participates in school and community activities. This award is given to an individual who understands the characteristics of the adult learner and who is committed to the adult/continuing education profession.
  2. ABE Administrator of the Year Award
    The Adult Basic Education Administrator of the Year Award is awarded to an adult education administrator with five or more years of experience who has made an outstanding contribution toward fostering the concept of education as a continuing life-process.
  3. Partner in Adult Learning Service Award (PALS)
    The Partners in Adult Learning Services (PALS) Award honors an individual or organization that is not employed in the field of education, but that has made an outstanding contribution to adult basic education/literacy as a community leader at the local state, regional, and/or national level.
  4. Outstanding ABE/GED Adult Learner Award
    The Adult Learner of the Year award is given to a student who has overcome difficult circumstances to pursue adult learning, who has supported other adult learners, and who has managed significant adult responsibilities such as those related to employment, family or community.
  5. Kenneth J. Mattran Award (Promoting literacy at the national and international level)
    The Kenneth J. Mattran Award honors an individual who has a distinguished record of achievement in promoting literacy at the national or international level.
  6. Chester Klevins Award to the Outstanding Workplace Literacy Program
    The Chester Klevins Award honors an institution which has developed an outstanding workplace literacy program serving a local community, state/province, region and/or nation, has provided programming for more than three years, has developed customized services/curriculum at varied workplace settings, and who can provide evidence from employers that the program has met their objectives.

Incentive Grants and Scholarships

Incentive Grants and Scholarships provide financial support to members for small special projects or advanced study in Adult Education. There may be up to four recipients in each category. Recipients must be a member of or join COABE.
  1. COABE Scholarship Information and Application
    Scholarships from COABE fund, or partially fund, college level courses of study that will advance the professional standing of COABE practitioners.
  2. COABE Incentive Grant Information and Application
    COABE provides incentive grants that support activities or projects in the field of adult basic education through the secondary level. The overall purposes of the grants are to promote:
    • field-based, practitioner-developed activities for student/faculty growth
    • program improvement through enhanced curriculum, instruction, assessment, counseling, student services, research/evaluation, or community involvement
  3. National Institute for Literacy Scholarship (NIFL)
    The National Institute for Literacy Award is given to a COABE member that demonstrate a desire to attend the national annual COABE conference to continually grow and improve their professional development.  The NIFL award provides a $1,000 stipend toward conference registration, travel to the conference, and lodging for an individual that has been impacted by funding and/or travel restrictions which would otherwise inhibit them from attending the conference.