The Prize for Excellence and Innovation in Philosophy Programs has been jointly sponsored by the APA and the PDC since 1999. It recognizes philosophy departments, research centers, institutes, societies, publishers, and other organizations for creating programs that risk undertaking new initiatives in philosophy and do so with excellence and success, and to publicize the success of these programs so they may inspire and influence others to follow their lead.
From the selection committee: The P4C/Aggie School of Athens Philosophy Summer Camp for Teens exhibits excellence and innovation worthy of the prize. The program organizes undergraduate students to run a philosophy camp for high school students. What is especially impressive about this program is that it extends beyond the summer camp to year-round projects that involve college students engaging high school students in philosophical conversation. While giving college students hands-on experience mentoring and engaging high school students in philosophy, the program also gives high school students a genuine voice in the organization of the camp and the year-long program. The program offers a model to others looking to develop philosophy for children programs that can serve to both strengthen undergraduate engagement in philosophy and create enthusiasm for philosophy among high school students. The program has also been successful in engaging the community and highlighting the importance of philosophy in the development of children.
P4CTexas is a group of dedicated educators who wish to provide an engaged relationship between the Texas universities and the Texas K–12 schools by introducing philosophy into the pre-college classroom. The P4C Texas program has one overarching goal to develop and sustain a pre-college philosophy program that introduces K–12 students and educators to and provides a welcoming environment for the engagement with philosophical ideas and discussions.
The Aggie School of Athens Philosophy Camp for Teens brings middle and high school students to the Texas A&M University campus for a week-long non-residential philosophy camp. The staff who work in the camp have been trained in the P4C pedagogy, either through a workshop, a class, or having been a previous camper.
