2017 Vanguard Application Information

Deadline: August 31, 2017*

For any Texas school district or campus with current health project that has won a Discovery award. The Discovery award winning project must still be in place and show how it has grown since the last time it won. Winners would use the award money to continue and grow the health project.

Please read the entire* application before continuing. If you have any questions, contact the Texas Department of State Health Services’ School Health Program at or (512) 776-7279.

Application Screening Criteria

  1. Applications will be considered for an award only if the following criteria are met.
  1. Project Duration: The project described in the application
  • is active, AND
  • has been in operation for a full school year with final results.
  1. Project Quality: The project identified
  • reflectsan organized health project to be implemented within a campus or the district; AND
  • meets the description in the application; AND
  • strives to improve the lifelong physical, mental or social well-being of students, staff, and/or the greater school community (e.g., parents/family members, PTA, community members, and groups supporting the project).
  1. SHAC Support: There is evidence, in the form of a Letter of Support, that the district’s school health advisory council (SHAC) supports the project.
  1. Applications are awarded points based on a pre-determined set of criteria. However, extra points will be given to applicants who plan for or implement policy, systems, and/or environmental changes with a focus on nutrition and physical activity.
  2. Only the information requested in this application will be considered during judging. If an applicant provides supplemental information (e.g., a website or reference), it will not be considered.
  3. Award of Achievement in Obesity Prevention: This extra recognition is for health projects that apply for the Vanguard award and show success in decreasing obesity in adolescence by promoting nutrition and physical activity.Applicants should check the box on the Vanguard application if their health project meets this criteria. By doing so, the health project will be put forward for the Awards of Achievement in Obesity Prevention and possibly receive an additional $1000 in award funding!

Instructions

  1. Read the entire* application before beginning to fill it out.
  2. Tell your project’s story as you complete this application. Detailed technical writing is not an expectation, but you will be judged on the quality and detail of your responses.
  3. Please respond toallitems;mark “N/A” for those that do not apply.
  4. There is no character limit on this application. Please use as much space as needed to fully describe the project.
  5. Apply as a district, if your project is implemented throughout the district, or as a campus, if your project applies only to acampuswithin the district.
  6. Applications must be submitted electronically to by the deadline. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

If you have any questions, contact the Texas Department of State Health Services’ School Health Program at or (512) 776-7279.*

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