The Connecticut State Department of Education began the Celebration of Excellence in 1986 as a program to recognize and reward veteran teachers for their development of innovative and exemplary classroom curriculum projects. The program has received substantial support from private and public sectors. This report is a summative evaluation of Celebration's accomplishments in its first decade. So far, Celebration has presented awards for excellence in teaching to 1,125 teachers who designed 770 curriculum projects. Celebration was evaluated through interviews with 56 award recipients and program administrators and a mail survey completed by 25% of the 50 award recipients who were sent questionnaires. Analyses of data indicate that Celebration of Excellence is a success in the opinion of all participants. It has restored teachers' sense of pride in work, self-confidence, and self-esteem. Criticism focused on the program's emphasis on the individual more than on a broader, statewide approach to teacher professional development. Participants also expressed concerns about the quality of some of the curriculum projects and the mismatches between some projects and the actual curriculum needs of different schools. Participants also noted that the demand for work on the program's operations exceeded the capacity of available assistants. It is concluded that the Celebration of Excellence has accomplished its original objectives, and that conditions of education in Connecticut are substantially different than they were when the Celebration began. An appendix presents tables of applicants, awards, and professional activities. (SLD)