Project APEX (Adult Practitioner Excellence) provided technical assistance to the Pennsylvania Department of Education in the development of a nominations form, procedures, and criteria for the new adult basic and literacy education (ABLE) practitioner excellence awards. It proposed a three-part nomination and selection system for determining excellence based upon the following: practitioner's statement of preparation and philosophy; administrators'/peers' evaluation of professional competence; and adult students' perception of ABLE practitioner's performance. A blue ribbon panel defined 67 criteria of adult teacher excellence in the areas of adult learning theory, instructional expertise, professional development, and community resources. The panel also ratified a format for the APEX nomination form comprised of three parts: a one-page statement completed by the nominee that responds to five questions; a one-page recommendation completed by administrator or peers that describes how the teacher demonstrates expertise in five areas; and a 5-minute tape prepared by program participants that describes how the teacher made a difference in their lives. Three excellent adult teachers were selected. (Appendixes contain the following: 15 references; team members' examples of excellence; the nomination form; examples of excellence; indicators of excellence; forms and surveys; and biographies of APEX award winners.) (YLB)