OSUEA Search for Excellence
2026 Application Deadline: June 15, 2026 (11:59pm)
OSUEA Search for Excellence Award
Purpose: To recognize outstanding Extension education effort, innovation and impact.
Eligibility/Selection/Timeline: Only current members of the OSU Extension Association are eligible to enter. For team projects to be considered, at least one project leader must be a member of OSUEA. We consider applications for both teams and individuals in a wide range and scale of deserving programs from county to multi-state efforts.
Programs/projects completed within the past 2 years are eligible. Award selection and evaluation is conducted by the OSUEA Faculty and Staff Awards Committee. Individuals or teams selected will be recognized during the 2025 OSU Extension Conference. Those honored are expected to present an overview of their program to peers.
To see which of your colleagues qualifies for nomination, please consult the OSUEA list of current members.
Scoring Rubric and Additional Details
1. ISSUE & SITUATION: Clearly presents the needs/situation of the issue addressed. Why is the issue important and what was the situation prior to the implementation of the program (10 points)?
2. STAKEHOLDERS & INPUT: Identifies audiences/customers/stakeholders, and clearly describes the process used to obtain their input into program development and implementation. Who does the program target, and how was their input obtained (10 points)?
3. EXTENSION FOCUS & RESEARCH BASE: Clearly shows the outreach education focus of the program, while presenting the key research and/or experiential learning upon which the program is based. A brief bibliography citing key references used in developing the program can be included as an attachment, if needed (10 points).
4. MULTIDISCIPLINARY & COLLABORATIVE COMPONENTS: Presents the key multidisciplinary components and collaborations/partnerships needed for success of the program. Explains the key role of each to the program. Do not just list disciplines, collaborators and partnerships without a statement of why/how they were important to the program (10 points).
5. INNOVATIVE APPROACHES: Describes innovative approach used to effectively address the issue. Clearly explains why the approach, method, program, etc., is viewed as both innovative and appropriate to the audience. (15 points).
6. IMPACTS ACHIEVED: Identifies the evaluation methods used and clearly presents the significant impacts, outcomes and results achieved by the program in addressing the issue (30 points).
7. SCHOLARLY PRODUCTS DEVELOPED: Presents the scholarly products developed for use by clientele and peers in support of the program. Scholarly products developed may include, but are not limited to journal articles, magazine articles, education manuals, fact sheets, new curricula, new web sites, videotapes, CD-Roms (15 points). Examples may be included as attachments.
Nominate yourself or a colleague (Qualtrics). Also, selected applicants will be required to present at Extension Annual Conference.
Search for Excellence Award Recipients
Updated: January 2026
