H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards and Community Grants
Eligibility
Any Texas public school teacher or school can be nominated for H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. Nominations are open to the public and can be submitted by students, parents, administrators, or community members. Community grants are available to nonprofits and schools through H-E-B's Community Investment program.
- Eligible: Texas public school teachers and schools
- Anyone can submit a nomination - no district approval required
- Multiple award categories for different grade levels and program types
- Community grants available separately through H-E-B Community Investment
Program Goals
H-E-B, the Texas-based grocery chain, runs one of the most prominent education recognition programs in the state. The Excellence in Education Awards honor outstanding Texas teachers and schools each year, and winners receive significant cash awards. H-E-B also provides community grants that support education, technology, and youth enrichment programs statewide.
Teachers running innovative STEM programs that produce measurable student outcomes are exactly the kind of stories H-E-B recognizes. Award money can then be reinvested in tools, kits, and curriculum.
Application Timeline
Nominations open annually, typically in the fall. Check heb.com for the current cycle dates. The Excellence in Education awards process includes nomination review, finalist selection, and an awards ceremony. Community grants operate on a separate cycle.
Award Amounts
Excellence in Education cash awards can reach $25,000 for top-tier winners. School awards also include H-E-B gift cards and recognition events. Community grants vary by program and location. Multiple award categories mean that teachers across grade levels and subject areas are eligible.
How Award Funds Can Be Used
Award money can be spent at the winner's discretion on classroom materials and programs. Previous winners have used H-E-B funds to buy STEM tools, build makerspaces, and expand coding programs.
Forward Education Tools That Qualify
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micro:bit Classroom Kits
Hands-on physical computing kits that support the kind of innovative, student-centered STEM program that H-E-B loves to recognize. Award funds can buy a full classroom set. -
MicroChat AI Literacy Kit
AI literacy tools that help students develop 21st-century skills. A program built around MicroChat creates a compelling nomination story about preparing students for the future. -
Coding for Good Kit
Project-based coding with real-world connections. A coding-for-community-impact program is an ideal H-E-B award nomination.
Keep in Mind
Don't wait for someone else to nominate the CS or STEM teacher who is doing innovative work. Submit the nomination yourself and describe specific student outcomes.
H-E-B evaluators respond to real student stories. Collect quotes, photos, and outcome data from your STEM program to make the nomination compelling.
The community grant program operates differently from the awards. Visit H-E-B's Community Investment page to see if there are open grant cycles that match your school's program goals.
H-E-B promotes its award winners publicly. This visibility can attract additional community support, parent engagement, and interest from other funders.
Need Help Writing Your Grant Application?
Forward Education works with schools and districts to build strong funding proposals. We can help you connect our tools to your grant requirements.
- Curriculum alignment documents - TEKS and state standards mapped to our kits
- Program quotes and pricing - classroom sets, bundles, and multi-site pricing
- Letters of support - documentation for grant applications
- Project ideas and scope-and-sequence - ready-to-use program outlines
Download the Forward Education Grant Guide
Our grant guide helps educators find the right funding sources and build strong applications for STEM and coding programs.
Get the Grant Guide
