Purpose of Program

César E. Chávez, the founder and president of the United Farm Workers of America, dedicated his life to improving the plight of American farmworkers and pointing out the dangers of pesticide on food. His deep belief in the principles of nonviolence and the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. won him the admiration and respect of leaders throughout the world. He believed strongly in public schools and stated:

“The purpose of all education should surely be service to others.”

In April 2020, the program was renamed the César E. Chávez and Dolores Huerta Education Awards Program to honor the contributions of both leaders. The César E. Chávez and Dolores Huerta Education Awards Program provides recognition for educators and their students who demonstrate an understanding of the vision and guiding principles embraced by César E. Chávez and Dolores Huerta.

The Award Program honors the memory of these great leaders and ensures that the spirit of their work continues in the classrooms.

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Award Program Description

The César E. Chávez and Dolores Huerta Education Awards Program will provide recognition for educators and their students who demonstrate an understanding of the vision and guiding principles embraced by César E. Chávez and Dolores Huerta. The Awards Program honors these great leaders and ensures that the spirit of their work continues in the classrooms of California.

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Award Criteria for Visual Arts

Participants must show evidence of how one or more of the below principles are evident in their lives.

Entries must focus on one or more of the following principles of César E. Chávez and/or Dolores Huerta’s legacy:

Principles of nonviolence

Self-determination through unionization (forming and joining unions)

Social justice for farmworkers

Safe food/health/environmental issues

Human and civil rights issues

Teamwork, cooperation, collaboration and/or service to others

Empowerment of the disenfranchised

Innovation and education

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• The individual student must be enrolled at and attend the same school or campus as the sponsoring CTA member.
• Grade levels include:
  • Pre-K, Transitional Kindergarten – K (artwork only)
  • First – Second grade
  • Third – Fourth grade
  • Fifth – Sixth grade
  • Seventh – Eighth grade
  • Ninth – Twelfth grade
  • Higher Education (Undergraduates only)
• We encourage applications from all students including Special Ed, Alternative Ed, ELL, etc.
• Submissions that do not meet the criteria will be ineligible.