Honorary Service Awards (HSA)

There are 3 distinct levels of Honorary Service Awards. 

Nominations are accepted for each of the levels mentioned above. Anyone may make a nomination for any level (Unit, Council or District). At each level, a committee will select the recipients and the recipients will then be honored at the appropriate event. Keep in mind nominations should be made at the appropriate level. For example…someone who is nominated for their work within Ventura County should be nominated at the District Level. Nominations for work in Camarillo should be made at the Camarillo Council level. Nominations for someone at a school level should be made at the Unit Level. Nominations of both individuals and organizations will be accepted at all levels. 

Types of Awards

The official information as to each award category can be obtained from the CAPTA website.

However, we thought it might be helpful to provide you some guidelines when deciding which award category to use when making your selections.  Keep in mind, these are just our suggestions and do not represent any official position from PTA:

GOLDEN OAK SERVICE AWARD (GOSA)

The Golden Oak Service Award is the most prestigious PTA award in California. This award may be given to an individual or organization that has made exceptional and significant contributions to the welfare of children and youth in the school or community over the course of several years (usually…a minimum of 10 years).  This award is available by a contribution of $60 in the name of the recipient. 

CONTINUING SERVICE AWARD (CSA)

A Continuing Service Award may be given to an individual or organization in special recognition of outstanding continued service to children and youth over the course of two or more school years. The CSA may be awarded without consideration to whether or not the recipient has previously received other California State PTA Honorary Service Awards. This award is available by a contribution of $30 in the name of the recipient. 

HONORARY SERVICE AWARD (HSA)

An Honorary Service Award (HSA) may be given to an individual or organization in special recognition of outstanding service to children and youth over the course of one or more school years. The HSA may be awarded without consideration to whether or not the recipient has previously received other California State PTA Honorary Service Awards.   This award is available by a contribution of $30 in the name of the recipient. 

VERY SPECIAL PERSON AWARD (VSP)

The Very Special Person (VSP) Award may be given to an individual or organization in recognition of service to children and youth at some point during the school year. The VSP may be awarded without consideration to whether or not the recipient has previously received other California State PTA Honorary Service Awards.  This award is available by a contribution of $15 or more. 

OUTSTANDING TEACHER AWARD (OTA)

This award may be given to recognize a teacher for outstanding service to children and youth through PTA, school or community.  This award is available by a contribution of $30 in the name of the recipient. 

OUTSTANDING ADMINISTRATOR AWARD (OAA)

This award may be given to recognize an administrator for outstanding service to the children and youth through PTA, school or the community.  This award is available by a contribution of $30 in the name of the recipient. 

IN MEMORIAM OR TRIBUTE DONATIONS Donations may be given by PTAs/PTSAs or by individuals in tribute to a person, a group or in memoriam. The donation may be made in any amount. An acknowledgement card or certificate, as requested, will be sent when a donation of $10.00 or more is made. Anyone or any group may donate to the HSA program fund; the fund is not limited to contributions by PTAs. 

PTA Check List

• Review the types of awards, donation amounts and criteria for selecting honorees for specific awards

• Publicize the awards and ask for suggestions for honorees from your members. Distribute a flyer requesting names and information. Be sure to also solicit nominations for the Camarillo Council and 12th District H S A

• Meet to discuss and select honorees. Remember to keep your proceedings confidential

• Budget for HSA awards as a line item and keep expenditures within your budget

• Order specific awards and certificates using order forms in the California State PTA Toolkit. Service pins can also be ordered at the same time, allowing four to six weeks for delivery

• Reserve their place at the Camarillo Council HSA Awards Banquet and Reflections Art Showcase

• Honor your recipients with the certificate, a few words at the event and some other small gift of appreciation

• Maintain an accurate record of all HSA awards in a permanent file. In some sites, they have a perpetual plaque that needs to be engraved

• Celebrate by making sure your school community is aware of the honorees

FAQs

• How Many Recipients? Every year we are asked for guidance on how many recipients a Unit should select for HSA Awards. What you have to keep in mind is the spirit of the award. You are recognizing people who have gone above and beyond or have done something this last year amazing for your students/campus/school. The more people you honor and recognize with this award, the less “special” the award becomes. There are many ways to say thank you or to recognize people – the H S A Awards are the “most special” of these ways.
  We tried to come up with a good “gauge” to help you determine the right number of honorees. We suggest 1% of your membership. So if you have 200 members, then 2 honorees is probably about right. Membership of 500, then 5 might be applicable. Remember…..this is a guideline!
  You should also consider the cost to your association when selecting your recipients. Between the cost of the dinner, award and gifts, you want to be sure you know what your budget line item is before making your selections.

• How are nominees obtained? Each school should encourage nominations by sending home a form (attached) with every student at your school.  Give a form to all teachers and Staff Members, and include a copy of your form on your school’s website, and any electronic weekly E-Blasts you might use.  Your PTA/PTSA Board is a great resource for nominations.

• Is this a committee based program? Yes, all nominees should be considered, discussed and honorees should ultimately be decided upon by a committee.  One person should never be the sole decision maker.

• How do we honor our recipients? Each honoree will receive a certificate and a dinner and awards ceremony in their honor.

• Who attends the HSA Dinner from each Unit (school)? All Honorees (and their guests), Principals, HSA Chairperson, PTA/PTSA President, other PTA/PTSA Executive Board Members you choose to include from your school.

If you have any questions or would like to go over the process in more detail, feel free to contact our HSA Committee Chair with any questions.

Now, get started and have fun!  There are some amazing people out there who need us to tell them how wonderful they are and how much we appreciate what they do for our school and our children.