We are thrilled you would like to present at ACTE’s Postsecondary CTE Summit. The information you provide on this form will help us review your proposal, evaluate its fit for the conference program and gather the details needed to feature your session if selected. Please complete all sections to give our Proposal Review Committee a clear understanding of your topic, audience engagement strategies and expected outcomes. The deadline to submit is April 17.

Important Dates:

• Notification of submission status: May 15
• Presenter acceptance confirmation deadline: June 1
• Presenter registration deadline: July 28

Registration for attendees and sponsors/vendors will open on April 15.

HQ Hotel
Hyatt Regency
2799 Richmond Hwy
Arlington, VA 22202
*Booking link coming soon!

Award Summary

The 2026 Catapult Award celebrates educational visionaries who are transforming postsecondary education for a rapidly evolving world. Through this award, ACTE honors individuals and teams who are redefining the future of Career and Technical Education (CTE) by making learning relevant, scalable, innovative, and aligned with real-world workforce needs.

This recognition is designed for educators, institutional leaders, researchers, and organizations that are systemically reshaping postsecondary education to better serve learners and strengthen workforce outcomes. If you are driving bold change, advancing innovation, or building impactful partnerships, this is your moment to shine.

Nominees should reflect the spirit of innovation and align with one or more of the ACTE 2026 Postsecondary CTE Summit themes:

• Emerging Technologies & Innovation – Preparing learners for a rapidly evolving workforce
• Strengthening Secondary–Postsecondary Pathways – Making alignment work for learners
• Policy, Funding & Systems Alignment – Connecting policy to practice
• Strengthening the Postsecondary CTE Workforce – Building teams that power student success

We encourage nominations that demonstrate measurable impact, scalable models, and strong alignment between education and workforce systems. Self-nominations are welcome.

Why You Should Apply

Applying for the Catapult Award is an opportunity to showcase the impactful work you’re doing and receive the recognition your program deserves. Here’s how this award can benefit you:

• Complementary Registrations: Receive three (3) complimentary registrations for the 2026 conference (over $1600 value)
• Free CatapultMasterclass:  Receive a CatapultMasterclass program for your entire team/department during spring 2027. Topics and speakers posted at CatapultMasterclass.com. ($10,000 value)
• Breakout Session: The winner will be invited to present their program’s work in a dedicated breakout session at the 2026 Conference to share insights and achievements with attendees.
• Recognition: An on-stage award presentation during the conference’s main session, acknowledging the winner in front of peers and industry leaders.
• Increased Visibility: Be featured in a dedicated article or profile in Technique’s Magazine and/or ACTE newsletter highlighting your impact and innovation. Winning this award positions your program as a leader in postsecondary CTE, enhancing your reputation and appeal to prospective funders and industry partners.
• Pay it Forward: Sharing your program’s successes on a national stage will reinforce your commitment to excellence and drive ongoing improvement within our field.

By applying, you’re not only setting your program apart but also helping to elevate the future of postsecondary CTE. We look forward to learning about the incredible work you’re doing!

Eligibility

Candidates for the Catapult Award must be active in the field of postsecondary education at the time of nomination. This includes educators, administrators, researchers, and professionals involved in private and public postsecondary settings to include technical schools, community colleges, universities, career centers, correctional institutions, and industry in both formal and informal CTE/adult education programs. This also includes individuals, institutions, educational nonprofits, districts, and community organizations. Nominees must have a proven track record of implementing scalable educational initiatives that focus on real-world skills and future workforce readiness.

Learn more about Catapult.