KAGE Service & Advocacy Awards
These awards provide recognition of exceptional service and/or advocacy in support of educating Kentucky’s gifted and talented children and youth. These awards include The Michael Caudill Educator Award, which was established in 2005 in memory of Michael Caudill, superintendent of Madison County Schools and friend to gifted children.
The Michael Caudill Educator Award
Established in 2005 in memory of Michael Caudill, superintendent of Madison County Schools and friend to gifted children.
- Nominee must be an administrator, counselor, teacher, or other professional in education.
- Nominee has made significant positive contributions to gifted education in the school, district, and/or state, which has greatly impacted students and/or educators.
- Nominee has a record of advocacy for gifted and talented children and youth.
Service and Advocacy Award
- Nominee has made significant positive contributions to gifted education in the school, district, community, and/or state, which has greatly impacted parents, students, and/or educators.
- Nominee has a record of advocacy for gifted and talented children and youth.
- Nominee can be a professional in education, a parent, a legislator, university staff or faculty, business leader, an alumni of gifted services in Kentucky, a KAGE chapter, or another entity.
KAGE Distinguished Student Award
The KAGE Distinguished Student Award is designed to recognize a student from grades 5 – 8 who has been formally identified as gifted and has distinguished achievement not only in academics, leadership, or the arts but also made a contribution to the community at a level beyond what is expected of a child in the student’s age group. One student will be named a Kentucky Association for Gifted Education Distinguished Student. The award recipient receives a College Entity Account from the Kentucky Education Savings Plan Trust (KESPT) and a Certificate of Excellence from KAGE. The award recipient is honored on February 10, 2025, at the KAGE Annual Conference in Lexington.
Nominations must include:
- Name, home address, school/work address, phone numbers of nominee
- Parent name, address, phone number. For Distinguished Student will also need the name and email for GT teacher.
- Essay/paragraph
- Four photos of nominee. Please include some of nominee going about the work for which he/she is nominated.
PRESENTATION OF AWARDS – The 2024 – 2025 award recipients will be honored during the KAGE Annual Conference, February 10-11.
Deadline to Submit Nominations, December 1, 2024
Congratulations to Lydia Feld
Distinguished Student Award Recipient
Lydia Feld is a fifth grade student at Norton Commons in Louisville. She goes above and beyond to make sure she is utilizing her talents fully at all times. She is a not only a good student, but also a good citizen. She has participated in numerous service activities. A particularly notable one was organizing a diaper bank in her community so that struggling families would not have to go without.
Congratulations to Abigail Wheaton
Advocacy and Service Award recipient
Abigail Wheaton has served as Gifted Coordinator for Union County Schools for four years. She is a dedicated educator and mentor, leading the teachers in Union County to be better informed and prepared. She was the driving force behind the formation of the Union County 8th Grade Academy. Her efforts have had a transformative impact on the lives of gifted students and the landscape of gifted education in Union County.
Recognizing Excellence, 2021-2024
Take a look at our 2021-2024 award videos below!
Last updated 09/19/2022