The Partnership for Public Service has announced that the nominations deadline for the 2011 Service to America Medals has been extended through February 7. Nominations may be submitted by any American, civil servant or not, at servicetoamericamedals.org.
“The men and women who do the nation’s work are too often overlooked and underappreciated,” said Max Stier, president of the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service. “The Service to America Medals send a powerful message to the American people about the importance of our federal workers and the vast impact they have on all our lives.”
Nine medals, including the Federal Employee of the Year Medal will be awarded to outstanding federal employees. One new award this year: a Management Excellence medal category to be awarded to a top employee for demonstrating superior leadership/management through a significant contribution to the nation. Winners are selected based on three main criteria: impact of their work on meeting the needs of the nation, on-the-job innovation, and commitment to public service.
Additional medal categories include Homeland Security, Career Achievement, Call to Service, Citizen Services, National Security and International Affairs, Justice and Law Enforcement, and Science and Environment. All career civilian federal employees are eligible, and anyone may submit a nomination. The awards are accompanied by cash prizes, from $3,000 to $10,000.
Previous medal winners range from the IRS employee responsible for the eFile system that gets millions their tax refunds in as few as 10 days, to the two NIH scientists whose discoveries led to new cervical cancer vaccines.
The 2011 Service to America Medal recipients will be honored in October. Thirty finalists will be honored in the Spring at a Capitol Hill awards luncheon.
National sponsors for the 2011 Service to America Medals are Booz Allen Hamilton, CH2MHill, Chevron, DuPont, and United Technologies Corporation.
The Partnership for Public Service works to revitalize the federal government by inspiring a new generation to serve and by transforming the way government works. Visit www.servicetoamericamedals.org for more information.