Awards 

MOSHAPE is proud to recognize Health and Physical Educators who make extraordinary contributions to the profession. The 2023 Chair of the Nomination/Awards Committee will be, Guy Danhoff. You can contact Guy Danhoff at [email protected] with questions. 

No person can receive a specific award more than one time.  Any member can be a recipient of multiple awards.  Please scroll down to see the list of awards and explanations. 

If you are nominating someone for President-Elect please talk to that individual before nominating them. 

Nomination for 2024 Teacher of the Year Awards-link soon
Nomination for 2024 Association Awards and President-Elect-link soon
Past Awards Recipients

Individual Award List

  • James Herauf Young Professional Award (35 yrs. or younger)
  • MOSHAPE Future Professional of the Year Award (faculty chosen)
  • Dr. Robert Taylor Professional Service Honor Award
  • Helen Manley Award
  • Dr. Patricia McSwegin Student Research Award
  • Kathleen Kinderfather Award
  • MOSHAPE Scholar Award
  • Dr. Tom Loughrey Advocacy Award
  • Teacher of the Year - Nominations closed
  • Presidential Awards (Chosen by current MOSHAPE President)
  • Administrator of the Year Award

Dr. James Herauf Young Professional Award

This award shall be presented to a young member who has demonstrated outstanding potential for scholarship, teaching, and/or professional leadership. The recipient must have held membership in MOSHAPE for at least five years, including those years as a student member, and be a current member. The recipient is no older than 35 years of age and must have held office, served on committees, conducted workshops, and/or presented convention programs for MOSHAPE.  This award is named in memory of the long-time Executive Director of MOAHPERD, Dr. James A. Herauf.

AnchorMOSHAPE Future Professional Award (Major of the Year)

The faculty from each college/university program selects their award recipients. MOSHAPE presents awards each year to outstanding future professionals from  colleges and universities in the state.  Missouri colleges and universities offering undergraduate majors in physical education, health, recreation, dance, exercise science, sport science, or kinesiology are invited to identify an outstanding future professional for each of those programs for recognition by MOSHAPE.  The purpose of the award is to honor outstanding future professionals in the state and to focus attention on the work they have accomplished.  This award provides an incentive for future professionals to strive for excellence in their professional preparation.  

AnchorDr. Robert M. Taylor Professional Service Honor Award

This award is presented to outstanding teachers and administrators in physical education, health, recreation and dance who have served the Society. The recipient shall have held membership in MOSHAPE for five years and be a current member. The recipient shall have served in such capacities as elected office, committee membership, workshop presenter or convention program presenter.  This award is named in memory of Dr. Robert Taylor, a long-time Director of Health and Physical Education in the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

AnchorHelen Manley Award

This award is presented to members who have demonstrated outstanding service to the Missouri Society of Health and Physical Educators in programming for physical education, health, recreation, dance and/or allied professions. The recipient must have held membership in the Society for ten years and be a current member. If the nominee is retired, the current membership requirement is waived. This award is named in memory of a founder of the society who also was a national leader in Health and Physical Education.

AnchorDr. Patricia McSwegin Student Research Award

This award is given to a student(s) with the best research poster presentation at the Missouri Society of Health and Physical Educators Convention. This award is named in memory of a Past President of MOAHPERD Dr. Patricia McSwegin.

AnchorDr. Kathleen Kinderfather Award

This award is presented to someone who has exhibited honor, dignity, integrity and exemplary contributions to the Missouri Society of Health and Physical Educators and the profession. In any given year, only one individual may receive this award.  This award is named in honor of long-time Executive Director, Dr. Kathleen Kinderfather, who is also one of only two Missouri recipients of the SHAPE America Luther Halsey Gulick Award.

AnchorLynn Imergoot MOSHAPE Scholar Award

This award is presented to a professional member of the Missouri Society of Health and Physical Educators. The recipient must have membership in the Missouri Society of Health and Physical Educators for five years and be a current member. The recipient must have demonstrated competence in research via grant proposals, research papers, publications, artistic performances or media presentations. This award is named in memory of Lynn Imergoot, a Washington University instructor and athletic administrator.

Dr. Tom Loughrey Advocacy Award

This award is to recognize Quality Health and Physical Education advocacy initiatives from an educator/administrator working in an educational setting or a legislative/non-profit person who provides support to improve policies, programs or practices.

Administrator of the Year Award

This award is presented to an administrator who provides outstanding support to our programs.

AnchorTeacher of the Year Awards

MOSHAPE's Teacher of the Year (TOY) program recognizes outstanding teachers in the following categories: Physical Education at three levels (Elementary, Middle, and High School), Adapted Physical Education, Health, and Dance Education.

Individuals who are named Teacher of the Year by Missouri are eligible for Central District Teacher of the Year award if they hold membership in SHAPE America. Central District winners are eligible for the national award, SHAPE America Teacher of the Year.

The recipient shall have current membership in the MOSHAPE Association, minimum five years of teaching experience, degree and certification in teaching, full time teaching at time of application submission & selection, minimum of 50% of total job responsibilities is teaching one of the following: Physical Education, Adapted Physical Education, Dance Education, or Health Education.

AnchorPresidential Awards

Presidential awards are given to those individuals the president feels have contributed significantly to MOSHAPE and the President's role during the president's term of office.