Awards
Recognizing excellence and leadership in business education.
Each year, NBEA honors business educators, administrators, researchers, and leaders who have made significant contributions to the field. Nominations are open to current NBEA members; self-nominations are not accepted.
Key Dates
Nominations Open: April 15
Nomination Deadline: August 1
Award Presentation: NBEA Annual Convention
Jump to an award category:
Business Education Hall of Fame · Teacher & Administrator of the Year · CBTR Awards · How to Nominate · FAQs
How to Submit a Nomination
All NBEA award nominations follow the same process and use the same online form. Before you begin, please review the requirements below.
Nominator Requirements
- Must be a current NBEA member
- Must upload a letter of recommendation
- Self-nominations are not accepted
What to Include
Only contributions made within the last seven (7) years should be included on the nomination form. Resumes and vitae are no longer required or accepted. Submissions require bulleted entries in each of the following categories:
| Category | Points |
|---|---|
| Biographical Data Current and former employment for the past seven years, including teaching and administrative responsibilities |
— |
| Professional Association Involvement Participation and contributions to local, state, regional, and national professional associations |
0–40 |
| Service & Committee Work Departmental and committee work, service to your institution, community, or professional organizations |
0–30 |
| Contributions to the Field Major articles, presentations, refereed and non-refereed publications, research, grant proposals, and student-activity involvement |
0–30 |
Business Education Hall of Fame
The Business Education Hall of Fame pays tribute to the men and women who have made significant contributions to the field of business education over a career. Hall of Fame inductees are recognized each year at the NBEA Annual Convention.
Eligibility
- Candidate must have been an active business educator — teacher, lecturer, author, supervisor, publisher, or inventor
- The award may be presented posthumously
Nomination Letter
Your nominating letter should explain why this person should be elected to the Business Education Hall of Fame. Include the following biographical information:
- Education and degrees
- Dates and places of employment
- Date of birth (and date of death, if deceased)
- Professional organizations and leadership positions
- Honors, achievements, and awards
- Research and publications
- Other contributions to business education
Teacher & Administrator of the Year Awards
NBEA's Teacher and Administrator of the Year Awards recognize outstanding business educators across every level of instruction, from middle school through university, as well as the administrators and supervisors who lead them.
Award Categories
| Category | Honors |
|---|---|
| Collegiate/University Teacher of the Year | College and university business faculty |
| Post-Secondary Teacher of the Year | Community college and post-secondary business educators |
| Secondary Teacher of the Year | High school business educators |
| Middle School Teacher of the Year | Middle school business educators |
| Administrator or Supervisor of the Year | Business education administrators and supervisors |
Nominee Requirements
- Must currently be an NBEA member, and have been a member for at least five (5) years
- Must be physically present at the Annual Convention to receive the award
- Must be primarily engaged in teaching business at the level for which they are being nominated
- If the nominee has dual responsibilities, at least 50% must fall within the nominated category (teaching for Teacher of the Year, or administration for Administrator/Supervisor of the Year)
Nominate a Teacher or Administrator
CBTR Awards
The Council for Business Teaching and Research (CBTR) recognizes excellence in research, scholarship, and leadership within post-secondary business education. CBTR offers three distinct awards each year.
Best Doctoral Dissertation Award
CBTR recognizes a top recent Ph.D., Ed.D., DBA, or other business-related doctoral graduate with the Best Dissertation Award. Recipients are honored at the NBEA & CBTR Convention and recognized across NBEA's communications channels.
Eligibility: Anyone awarded a doctorate in a business-related discipline between January 1 and December 31 of the year prior to the convention. Full-time and part-time faculty, those outside the professorate, and recent graduates are all welcome to submit.
Submit a Dissertation Nomination
Research Conference Best Paper Awards
The Business Education Research Conference (BERC) is held each year in conjunction with the NBEA Annual Convention. A review panel selects best papers in two categories — empirical research and innovative instructional practices — from presentations made at the BERC.
Presentation proposals are due each October 1. Anyone submitting a proposal is automatically considered for the Best Paper Award.
National Leadership Award
The CBTR National Leadership Award recognizes a CBTR member for outstanding leadership and service to the Council and the profession. Recipients exemplify a commitment to scholarship, leadership, and cooperation among business education professionals at the national level.
Submit a Leadership Nomination
Past Award Ceremonies
Recognize and celebrate the educators who have earned NBEA's highest honors.
View Past Award Winners Hall of Fame Inductees
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone nominate themselves for an award?
No. Self-nominations are not accepted. However, you may ask a fellow NBEA member to nominate you.
What do I need to nominate someone?
Complete the online nomination form. If you don't have all the background material on the person you'd like to nominate, that's okay — submit what you have and press submit. NBEA staff will follow up with the nominee to confirm eligibility, NBEA membership, and gather any additional information through the online form.
Tip: It's a good idea to contact the nominee in advance to confirm they are an NBEA member and willing to receive the award.
Do I have to travel to the convention to receive the award?
Most awards require attendance at the Annual Convention. We do offer flexibility for circumstances that prevent travel — at minimum, recipients should be available to receive the award virtually with a camera.
What does an award recipient receive?
- An engraved crystal or plaque award
- Photo recognition at the convention and in The Business Education Forum
- Permanent listing on the NBEA website as a recipient
- Career recognition you can include on your résumé or CV
- The honor of recognition from your peers in the profession
Ready to Recognize a Colleague?
Take a few minutes to honor a business educator whose work has made a difference.