The AAMP has three opportunities to recognize its members who have contributed to their profession. Two awards are for individuals who have served in our profession for 30 or more years. However, the third award (“Teacher of the Year”) is intended to recognize individuals who have made important contributions to their school and profession for at least 5 years. Please review the three Awards with their eligibility criteria and their nomination processes to recognize someone you believe is worthy of consideration.

Service Award

Criteria

Individuals considered for this award should meet the following criteria:

  1. Consistent, active support of the Adventist Association of Movement Professionals.
  2. A minimum of 30 years of service in Seventh-day Adventist education (or in the area of health, physical education, recreation, or related professions).
  3. Contributions to one’s employing institution through leadership in campus activities such as committees, administrative responsibilities, faculty senate, etc.
  4. Contributions to one’s community and church.
  5. Nominated to the committee for consideration from within the profession.

Honor Award

Criteria

Individuals considered for this award should meet the following criteria:

  1. Consistent, active participation and outstanding leadership in the Seventh-day Adventist Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Association.
  2. A minimum of 30 years of service in Seventh-day Adventist education (or in the area of health, physical education, recreation, or related professions).
  3. A commendable record of scholarly productivity as evidenced by:
    1. publications in professional and denominational literature;
    2. presentations at national, regional, or state conventions/conferences (e.g.: SHAPE, ACSM, NAPEHE, AAMP);
    3. participation in professional workshops, panels, and symposia.
  4. Outstanding service as evidenced by membership in national, regional, state, and local professional organizations, committee membership, governing boards, and offices held, including but not limited to SDA organizations.
  5. Significant contributions to one’s employing institution through leadership in campus activities such as committees, administrative responsibilities, faculty senate, etc.
  6. Contributions to one’s community and church.
  7. Nominated to the committee for consideration from within the profession.
Download nomination form

Teacher of the Year

Criteria

Individuals considered for this award should meet the following criteria:

  1. The award is to be for an outstanding individual teaching physical education classes to students in Kindergarten through 12th grade.
  2. Member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
  3. Holds a degree in physical education.
  4. Holds SDA denominational credential/certification in physical education.
  5. Holds valid state or province licensure/certification in teaching physical education.
  6. Five or more years of teaching.

Additional Criteria “considered,” but not absolutely necessary:

  1. Current member of one or more of the following: state, district or national physical education (or other health-related) professional organization.
  2. Holds a graduate degree, is on track towards a graduate degree, or stays current with new innovations in the field of physical education by regularly attending physical education workshops and conferences.

Nomination Process

  1. The outstanding teacher is to be nominated by a principal, teacher, pastor, parent, or student by December 15 with the following:
    1. First and last name of the teacher being nominated
    2. Name of school where the teacher is working
    3. School’s address, state, zip code
    4. School’s office phone
    5. The teacher’s phone & email address
    6. Number of years teacher has taught
  2. AAMP executive committee requests the following from the nominee:
    1. documentation of current SDA teacher certification
    2. documentation of current state teacher certification
    3. a reference letter from a principal or other appropriate individual
      The reference letter may discuss creative ways the teacher has developed the curricular offerings, and share how the school is a better place because of this teacher. Possible topics might include:
      1. impact on children – spiritually, healthy role model, sportsmanship, etc.
      2. impact on school staff – getting them involved in faculty fitness, intramurals, extracurricular physical activities
      3. impact on community – school programs that show-case what children are doing in physical education, intramurals, fitness development, etc. – getting community fitness going etc.
  3. Nominee submits the requested information from step 2 to the AAMP executive committee.
  4. The AAMP executive committee reviews all candidates and makes the final selection for the recipient of the Award.
Download nomination form

Submit nominations to: Matthew Lee, Executive Director (mlee[at]pucprep[dot]org)


Award Winners

Early Recognition Award

Later renamed “Founders Award.”

Year Person Affiliation
1984 Ingrid “Miss J” Johnson Andrews University
1984 Eugene “Prof” Winter Walla Walla College
1989 William J “Coach” Napier Loma Linda University
1990 Robert M. “Bob” Reynolds Pacific Union College

General Recognition

No specific criteria.

Year Person Affiliation
1999 Cyril F. “Blackie” Dean Canadian Union College
2009 Debbie Morgan Madison Academy
2011 John “JJ” Henline Shenandoah Valley Academy

Honor Award

Year Person Affiliation
2000 Vernon Scheffel La Sierra University
2002 Walt Hamerslough La Sierra University
2006 Delmar Lovejoy Oakwood College
2009 Phil Garver Southern Adventist University
2009 Roger McFarland La Sierra University
2012 Stacy Nelson Atlantic Union College
2019 Don Morgan Middle Tennessee State University
2022 Bob Benge Southern Adventist University

Service Award

Year Person Affiliation
1998 Wally Specht Pacific Union College
1999 Wayne Fleming Union College
1999 Robert “Bob” Schneider Loma Linda University
2000 Helen Weismeyer La Sierra University
2006 Ric Gatling Madison Academy
2006 Barbara Harsany Southwestern Adventist University
2006 John Pangman Southern Adventist University
2009 Rodney Fulbright Forest Lake Academy
2011 Tom Bunch Southwestern Adventist University
2015 Tim Windemuth Walla Walla University
2017 Wally Fox Georgia Cumberland Academy
2018 Richard Schwarz Southern Adventist University
2019 Laura Benn Takoma Adventist Academy
2019 Greg Davies Sage Valley Middle School
2019 Marvin Denney Walla Walla University
2019 Tedd Webster Great Lakes Academy
2020 Bob Kilgore Shenandoah Valley Academy
2020 Randy Norton El Dorado Adventist Academy
2020 Ric Spaulding Union College
2021 Nancy Petta Union College
2021 Sue Peterson Loma Linda Academy
2022 Paul Lehmann Burman University
2022 Elaine Neudeck Pacific Union College
2023 Tedd Webster Great Lakes Academy
2023 Bob Paulson Pacific Union College
2023 Ron Shafer Burman University
2024 Curtis Kuhlman Walla Walla University
2024 Doug White Puget Sound and Skagit Adventist Academies

Teacher of the Year Award

Established in Indianapolis in 2010.

Year Person Affiliation
2014 Doug Zimmerman Escondido Adventist Academy
2015 Mike Kearbey Rogers Adventist School
2016 Sue Peterson Loma Linda Academy
2017 Matt Lee PUC Preparatory School
2018 Randy Lonto Ruth Murdoch Elementary
2019 Leslie Aragon Orangewood Adventist Academy
2020 Juan Leon Greater Miami Adventist Academy
2021 Kyle Kay Fraser Valley Adventist Academy
2022 Justin Serns Mesa Grande Adventist Academy
2023 Stacey Brackett Tri-City Academy
2024 Bryce Reading Highland Academy

Future Professional Award

Established in New Orleans in 2022.

Year Person Affiliation
2022 Cyrus Jones Pacific Union College
2023 Camden Armstrong Southern Adventist University
2024 Juliana Zollbrecht Walla Walla University