Award Categories

Nominations will be accepted in these categories:

• Maryland Strong: An individual or organization that made an extraordinary contribution to Maryland communities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  
• Hometown Hero: An individual or group that benefited a local community through a single act or longer effort. 
• AmeriCorps Alum: A Maryland AmeriCorps Alum whose commitment to embody service beyond their term of AmeriCorps service continues to bring about positive community change. 
• Corporate Business: A corporation or business investing in exceptional, transformative employee volunteering that fuels employee fulfillment and fosters increased civic engagement in the community.
• Emerging Leader: An individual or group who recently took initiative to meet a community need through local organizing and volunteering.
• First Responder: Any individual employed in an emergency service occupation whose service has gone above and beyond the call of duty in a capacity outside of paid employment.
• Faith-Based: An individual, family, group/team, or youth that volunteers through a faith-based community organization.
• Government Employee/Agency: A government employee or agency at the local, state, or federal level that has provided outstanding volunteer service to the state outside of regular work operations.
• Group: A group or team of two or more people that volunteer together on the same project(s) under a group or team name.
• Individual: An individual who volunteers.
• Lifetime Achievement: An individual who has a record of 20 years or more in volunteerism and community service. 
• National Service: An individual member of any National Service program (AmeriCorps, VISTA, or Senior Corps) who has demonstrated outstanding volunteer service beyond the requirements of the designated program.
• Nonprofit Volunteer Program: A nonprofit whose volunteers have shown exemplary service in carrying out the mission of the organization through direct service to the community.
• Small Business: A corporation or business (of 50 employees or less) investing in exceptional, transformative employee volunteering that fuels employee fulfillment and fosters increased civic engagement in the community.
• Veteran: An individual who has served or is serving in the armed forces and volunteers in a Maryland community outside of paid employment. 
• Volunteer Program: A program whose volunteers have shown exemplary service in carrying out the mission of the organization.
• Youth: An individual (age 18 or younger) who volunteers.