Nominate
A nomination for the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education may be submitted on behalf of any person who meets the nomination criteria. The Prize recognizes outstanding individuals who have dedicated themselves to improving education and whose accomplishments are making a difference.
Nominations for the 2023 McGraw Prize are now closed. Please join our mailing list to learn about upcoming events including the announcement of this year’s winners!
Honorees of the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education should exemplify:
Transformational leadership in their organization or institution, and beyond
Innovative thinking and practices within their field
Impact on the lives of others and the education community at large
Respect earned from peers and a reputation of inspiration to others
Nomination Criteria
The McGraw Prize recognizes individuals in three categories: Pre-K–12 Education, Higher Education, and Lifelong Learning. Explore nomination criteria below.
Pre-K–12 Education
- Leadership- Explain how the nominee provides innovative leadership in their organization and beyond.
- Innovation- Provide examples of the nominee’s innovative thinking and practices within Pre-K–12 Education.
- Impact- Describe the significant impact the nominee has made on the field of Pre-K–12 Education.
- Reputation- Provide evidence that the nominee has earned the respect of their colleagues and peers and continues to inspire others.
Higher Education
- Leadership- Explain how the nominee provides innovative leadership in their organization and beyond.
- Innovation- Provide examples of the nominee’s innovative thinking and practices within Higher Education.
- Impact- Describe the significant impact the nominee has made on the field of Higher Education.
- Reputation- Provide evidence that the nominee has earned the respect of their colleagues and peers and continues to inspire others.
Lifelong Learning
- Leadership- Explain how the nominee provides innovative leadership in their organization and supports the development of lifelong learners.
- Innovation- Provide examples of the nominee’s innovative thinking and practices in areas such as durable skills development or workforce learning.
- Impact- Describe the significant impact the nominee has made on the opportunities for lifelong learning.
- Reputation- Provide evidence that the nominee has earned the respect of their colleagues and peers and continues to inspire others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nominations & Eligibility
What are the categories for which nominations are being
accepted?
There are three categories for the Prize: Pre-K–12 Education,
Higher Education, and Lifelong Learning.
Who can submit a nomination?
Nominators must be at
least 18 years old at the time they cast a nomination. There are no other
requirements.
Who is ineligible to be nominated for the Prize?
Faculty, lecturers, administrators, staff, or other employees of
the University of Pennsylvania and McGraw-Hill Education are ineligible to
be awarded the Prize and should not be nominated. Additionally, Final
Jurors who serve on the current Prize year’s selection committee are
ineligible for consideration as a nominee.
Is there an entry fee to nominate someone for the Prize?
There is no entry fee. It is free to submit a nomination.
Can I nominate myself?
Yes, self-nomination is
permitted.
Can I submit an international nomination for any of the Prize
categories?
Yes, all categories are open to international nominations.
Can I submit multiple nominations?
Yes, you may
nominate multiple individuals for the Prize, but you must submit a
separate nomination for each nominee.
Can I nominate a single individual in multiple categories?
No, an individual may only be nominated for one category. Nominate
individuals in the category that best suits their work. The selection team
also reserves the right to move the nominee into a different category,
should it be to the advantage of the nominee.
Can I nominate someone who was nominated in prior years?
Yes, past nominees are eligible for resubmission.
Can I nominate someone anonymously?
All nominations
are submitted anonymously, as we do not disclose who the Nominator is when
we notify the nominee of their nomination. It is your choice to let the
nominee know you have nominated them.
How long should my responses be for the open-ended prompts?
Responses to each of the prompts should be a minimum of 200
characters and a maximum of 1000 characters.
Can I submit supplemental materials (i.e., CV or resume) for
consideration?
Yes, please include any additional information about the nominee
under the final prompt on the form, “Is there anything else about the
nominee that you would like the jurors to know?” Note that doing so,
however, will not necessarily provide any advantage during the selection
process.
Can we save our nomination prior to submitting and complete it at a
later time?
No, the nomination must be completed in one sitting. We recommend
writing all responses in a separate document, then copying them into the
nomination form when you are ready to submit.
Is it possible to edit the nomination after it has been
submitted?
No, it is not possible to alter a nomination that has been
submitted, but you can email
info@mcgrawprize.com if you need
to correct or supply any additional information. No changes or updates to
a nomination will be accepted after the deadline on March 1, 2023.
Selection & Honorees
What do the Honorees of the Prize receive?
The
Honorees will each receive an award of $50,000 and a Prize sculpture.
When will the Honorees be announced?
The McGraw
Prize Honorees will be announced in the Fall, and they will be recognized
during the McGraw Prize Celebration presented by Penn GSE.
Join our mailing list
to receive details as they become available.
Other questions?
Email info@mcgrawprize.com.
Selection Process
McGraw Prize winners are chosen over three rounds of judging, including review by independent researchers and Penn GSE faculty, staff, students, and alumni with expertise in education. A distinguished jury of peers reviews a shortlist of finalists and recommends one Honoree in each category to win the McGraw Prize in Education.
2023 Jurors
The Pre-K–12 Education, Higher Education, and Lifelong Learning selection committee is made up of a dynamic and innovative group of individuals in academia. Under the leadership of selected lead jurors, the jury collectively reviews the nominees and submits recommendations for three finalists in each nomination category.

Ryan Baker
Associate Professor, Penn GSE

Sarita Brown*
President,
Excelencia in Education

Earl Buford
President,
Council for Adult & Experiential Learning (CAEL)

Yvonne Chan*
Principal,
Vaughn Next Century Learning Center

Robert Feldman
Professor and Senior Advisor to the
Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Maria Flynn
President and CEO,
Jobs for the Future

Kathryn Jeffrey
Superintendent and President,
Santa Monica College

Michael Keppell
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Learning and
Teaching, International College of Management Sydney

Rose Luckin
Professor of Learner Centred Design,
Founder & CEO of EDUCATE, University College London

Laura Perna
Vice Provost for Faculty,
University of Pennsylvania

Timothy Renick*
Executive Director at the National
Institute for Student Success, Georgia State University

Andreas Schleicher*
Director for the Directorate for
Education and Skills,
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

LaVerne Srinivasan
Vice President, National Program;
Education Program Director, Carnegie Corporation

Navin Valrani
CEO, Arcadia Education
*indicates McGraw Prize Winner