4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills.  The National 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer Recognition Award recognizes 4-H volunteers who demonstrate exemplary service to 4-H, while promoting service through volunteerism as both an opportunity and a privilege.

 

In 2010, eight regional honorees will be selected.  Each region will have its own Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer and Volunteer of the Year.  The eight regional winners become nominees for the national award, and one volunteer in each category will be named the national winner.

 

      I.      Selection Criteria

 

1.      The Volunteer of the Year Award is for individuals who have served as 4-H volunteers for less than 10 years at the county or state level.

2.      The Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award is for individuals who have served 10 or more years at the county or state level.

3.      Each completed application must be accompanied by three letters of recommendation.  Letters of recommendation must be written by a 4-H staff member, 4-H youth participant, another volunteer, or a parent/guardian. Letters should be no longer than 2 pages in length, in 12-point font with 1-inch margins.

Letters of recommendation should use the following criteria:

§  Positive impact the nominee has had on 4-H and on 4-H youth

§  Nominee’s ability to work with young people on projects and activities in a way that promotes decision-making, problem-solving, meeting challenges, mastery and youth/adult partnerships

§  Nominee’s innovative approaches to engaging youth and increasing diversity among participants

§  How nominee exemplifies a “mentor-learner” relationship with participants

§  Dedication to a safe and inclusive environment

§  How nominee models character and professional behavior when interacting with participants, families, and community partners

§  Nominee’s innovative approaches to performing volunteer service

§  Increased funding/resources generated by nominee

§  Recruitment of additional 4-H volunteers

§  Personal growth from being a 4-H volunteer (that you have observed)

 

   II.      Application Guidelines

 

1. Application materials must be submitted by a nominator to the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, 6940 O St.  Ste. 210  Lincoln NE 68510 by November 10, 2009.  Each State 4-H Office will select one nominee for each category from its pool of nominations, to be submitted for the regional award.  Two recipients will be selected from each region; one for each category mentioned above.  From the eight regional winners, one person from each category will be named the national award recipient.

 

 

 

 

This person is nominated for the:

 

o Volunteer of the Year Award                 o Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award

 

Nominee Contact Information

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

Last Name                                    First Name          Middle Initial                                                    

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

Street Address                 City                                        State                       Zip Code

 

Home Phone __________________________  E-mail Address      ________________________       

Work Phone or Mobile  __________________________

                                                                         

 How many years has this person served as a 4-H volunteer?  ____ years

 

Nominator Contact Information

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

Last Name                              First Name                                            Middle Initial

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

Street Address                City                                        State                       Zip Code

 

 

Home Phone __________________________  E-mail Address      ________________________       

Work Phone or Mobile  __________________________

     

 

 

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL BE DISQUALIFIED

 

Thank you for your interest in the 2010 National 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer Recognition Awards!