The Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP, Division 2 of the American Psychological Association) established its Excellence in Teaching Awards program in 1979. This article explores the history of STP's teaching awards program: the establishment of the first four awards categories, the Committee on Teaching Awards, the awards' endowment fund, expansion and refinement of awards criteria, changes in the venues for publicly honoring awardees, and the recent establishment of STP awards programs that honor achievements beyond teaching.