The Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards (GVSA) are seeking adult and youth volunteers to honor from Moore County for exemplary volunteer service. The GVSA is an annual event that honors the efforts of volunteers from across Tennessee. Each year one adult and one youth are selected to receive this prestigious award in recognition of their exemplary volunteer service in the county.
Marsha Hale of Moore County was one of last year’s winners. Brenda Hannah nominated her for the award.
To be eligible, locals must live in Moore County and volunteer in activities in Moore County that benefit the community in a substantial, important, or unique way. Activities can include, but are not limited to serving nonprofits, neighborhood groups, schools, and faith-based organization. Students receiving course credits are eligible, only if the volunteer service extends beyond course requirements. This must be clearly indicated in the nomination letter. National Service program participants (AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps*VISTA, RSVP, Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions, etc.) are encouraged to apply based on their volunteer involvement in their national service assignment.
Individuals involved in “court mandated community service” or those serving as “loaned executives” are not eligible. Persons who receive compensation for service rendered (except National Service participants noted above) should also not be nominated. Previous recipients are also not eligible.
Family members will need to be submitted as separate nominations. Corporate and civic volunteer groups, businesses and nonprofits may be interested in submitting a nomination for the GVSA Business and Nonprofit awards, go to www.volunteertennessee.net for more information.
Volunteers may be nominated by anyone or may nominate themselves. If an individual is nominated multiple times, the review panel will consider only the first nomination form submitted. The nomination narrative should specifically be formatted and address questions for the Governor’s Volunteer Star Awards. If it is written as a nomination for another award, it will not be given to the judges for consideration. A submission of a resume or list of nominee’s service does not meet narrative requirements.
The narrative should also reflect the four categories of the judging criteria, which are: need, action, innovation, and impact.
The deadline to submit this application is Friday, November 7 by noon. The application form can be found here: bit.ly/GVSA25 By submitting a nomination, you are confirming that Volunteer Tennessee, sponsor of the Governor’s Volunteer Star Awards and the GVSA County Coordinator may use this information to highlight the service of your nominee in various forms of media.
For questions, please contact Hayley Markowitz, Community Engagement Coordinator, via email at Hayley.Markowitz@yourlocaluw.org. •
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