Submissions open for outstanding Nebraska volunteer awards

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – ServeNebraska is accepting nominations for its 2022 volunteer awards through July 1.

The ServeNebraska Step Forward Awards recognize outstanding people and groups for their time and service volunteering throughout the state.

Each year, Gov. Pete Ricketts hand-selects honorees from the list of people nominated for the nine individual awards to thank them for their service.

Nominations can be made online.  The award ceremony will be held on Oct. 27.

Below is a complete list of all awards that are open for nomination.

• Adult Volunteer: A person 19 or older who has demonstrated outstanding volunteer service.
• Youth Volunteer Leadership: A person 18 or under who has demonstrated outstanding volunteer service.  This individual may hold leadership roles in student organizations, student councils, or student service clubs where they have demonstrated exemplary leadership skills.
• Volunteer Group: A group of volunteers who have served together on a common project that has impacted their community.  The nominees in this category strive to make communities better places to live through a variety of activities or by focusing on one issue of primary importance in their community.
• Corporate Community Volunteer: Corporations and businesses that excel in community involvement and demonstrated excellent corporate citizenship by giving back to their community in a variety of ways.  Equal consideration will be given to both large and small businesses. Top nominees will be selected.
• National Service: A person or group currently serving in a National Service program in Nebraska.  The nominee demonstrates outstanding effort to increase the quality of life in one or more communities in our state.  Nominees may be serving through AmeriCorps, VISTA, AmeriCorps Seniors (Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions, and RSVP), or Social Innovation.
• Veteran Volunteer: An individual who served honorably on active duty in the armed forces of the United States and has demonstrated outstanding volunteer service during and after active duty.
• Disaster Volunteer: A person or group that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to volunteerism by helping with a special project or ongoing activities, in preparation for or during times of disaster.  Many Nebraskans have served in this capacity this year.  Several top nominees will be recognized.
• Senior Volunteer: People 65 or older who are taking action to make their community a better place.  These individuals share their many years of experience and are role models for others to serve and volunteer.
• Lifetime Achievement: This award is the most prestigious state-level honor volunteers can receive; the people selected are those who have forever changed their community, the state, the nation, or the world with their volunteer service and action.  Nominees should be over the age of 65.