Named in honor of Adina De Zavala (1861–1955), a visionary leader whose advocacy helped preserve the Alamo and other iconic Texas sites, this award recognizes an individual who has led a significant advocacy effort to protect or preserve a specific historic place in Texas within the last three years. The award honors someone who demonstrated persistence, strategic action, and public engagement in support of a single preservation project—whether saving a building, a historic site, a neighborhood, or cultural landscape. Efforts may include grassroots organizing, coalition-building, legislative engagement, or raising public awareness to achieve a positive preservation outcome.

Nominations must clearly identify the historic resource at the center of the advocacy effort and its significance, describe the nominee’s role and impact, and include relevant supporting materials such as press coverage, campaign materials, or letters of support. Only one award is given in this category.

This award honors an individual Texan who has made significant contributions to historic preservation education through teaching, programming, or public engagement in a school or community setting. The award recognizes efforts that have meaningfully increased understanding or awareness of historic preservation principles, practices, or history among students or the general public. Eligible nominees include individuals such as teachers, museum educators, or public historians whose work is tied to educational initiatives rather than advocacy.

Nominations must include a description of the educational or public engagement efforts and its demonstrated impact. Only one award is given in this category.

Named for 19th-century master mason Heinrich Portscheller (1843-1915), renowned for his craftsmanship in South Texas, this award honors an individual who demonstrates exceptional skill and mastery in a traditional building arts practice—such as masonry, carpentry, plasterwork, blacksmithing, or other heritage trades—while also serving as a steward of that knowledge. The recipient will have made meaningful efforts to mentor others, pass on techniques, or promote the continuation of traditional craftsmanship in Texas.

Nominations should highlight the individual’s body of work, their role in education or mentorship, and the impact of their efforts on preserving and sustaining heritage trades. Only one award is given in this category.

This award honors an individual in Texas media whose work has made a significant contribution to advancing public understanding of and appreciation for historic preservation and Texas heritage. Eligible media may include books, articles, podcasts, video, broadcast, or print journalism that highlights preservation projects, issues, or stories related to local or statewide history.

Nominations must include examples of completed work and should demonstrate the impact of the media on increasing awareness, engagement, or appreciation of historic preservation and Texas heritage. More than one award may be given to recognize excellence across a variety of media formats and audiences.

This award recognizes an elected, appointed, or career government official in Texas who has made a significant and lasting contribution to historic preservation through their public service. Nominees should have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, or dedication in advancing preservation initiatives, policies, or projects at the local, regional, or state level.

Nominations must include a brief biographical statement and supporting materials such as media coverage, photographs, or documentation of their preservation work. Only one award is given in this category.

The Historic Preservation Award recognizes projects that focus on maintaining and stabilizing the interior and exterior historic integrity of a building or structure. These projects typically involve preventative work, conservation, or stabilization efforts to ensure the long-term survival of a historic property. The focus of the award is on preserving the significant elements of the property without altering or introducing new features. 

The Historic Restoration Award recognizes projects that restore a historic structure to a specific period of significance. These projects require an understanding of how the building evolved over time, strong evidence of how the building appeared during the period of significance, and exceptional care in preserving the original historic fabric of the property. Whether focusing on the exterior or interior, the project should convincingly return a building to its appearance during the period of significance, making use of appropriate materials and practices to achieve the intended result. 

The Historic Rehabilitation Award honors projects that successfully adapt a historic residential, commercial, or institutional building for modern use while preserving its character-defining architectural features. These projects often involve adaptive reuse or creative solutions to address the evolving needs of the property without compromising its integrity. 

The Historic Reconstruction Award honors projects that involve the reconstruction of a historic building or character-defining feature of an existing historic structure that had been lost, severely damaged, or altered beyond recognition. These projects focus on recreating missing or destroyed elements based on historical research, documentation, and careful interpretation. 

The Historic Infill Award recognizes projects that introduce new construction within a historic context in a manner that is sensitive, compatible, and respectful of the surrounding historic environment. Successful projects balance contemporary design needs with the character-defining features of adjacent historic properties and districts. Infill projects should demonstrate thoughtful scale, massing, materials, and detailing that complement the historic setting while maintaining a clear distinction between old and new. The award honors designs that strengthen the integrity and vitality of historic areas without resorting to imitation or compromising historic authenticity.