The descriptions of each category are below.

Each year, state 4-H programs are invited to nominate two outstanding individual volunteers–one in each of two categories:

• The Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award is given to an individual who has spent 10 or more years volunteering for 4-H.
• The Volunteer of the Year Award is given to an individual who has volunteered for 4-H less than 10 years.

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 local, county, district or state level.
2. The Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award is for individuals who have served 10 or more years at the local, county, district or state level.
3. A completed nomination will consist of an overview resume of the applicant’s 4-H and relevant community volunteer experiences and three (3) letters of recommendation. A template for the resume is provided and should be followed in developing the nomination packet. A packet missing any of the four components is eliminated (resume & 3 letters).
4. Nominations/letters of recommendation must address the following selection criteria: (See attached application)
   • Demonstrated ability to work with young people in a way that promotes youth empowerment, decision-making, problem-solving, meeting challenges, mastery.
   • Nominee’s dedication to youth/adult partnerships and mentor-learner relationships
   • Nominee’s innovative approaches to engaging youth and increasing diversity among participants
   • Dedication to a safe and inclusive environment
   • Nominee’s innovative approaches to performing volunteer service, recruitment of additional volunteers, partnering with other youth serving agencies, fundraising, providing other resources for 4-H, advocacy for 4-H, etc.
   • Evidence of professional attitude, character, and morals
   • Personal growth from being a 4-H volunteer (that you have observed)

Letter writers should be aware of the scorecard and address the relevant points in developing their documents.

Application Guidelines

1. Application materials must be submitted by a nominator to the nominee’s State 4-H Office. 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.
2. Each completed application must be accompanied by three letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation should be written by individual who can best describe the nominee’s qualifications such as 4-H youth participant, another volunteer, 4-H staff person. Letters should be no longer than 2 pages in length, in 12-point font with 1-inch margins.
3. A resume of 4-H experiences and community service must be included and should follow the template provided. It is limited to 2 pages in length, in 12-font with a one-inch margin.

Award Information
Nominations are due no later than March 10, 2021:

Laura Pine
Attn: Salute to Excellence
130 Pyle Center
702 Langdon St
Madison, WI 53706

State Recipients will be recognized at Fall Forum in November 2021.

Each regional winner will receive a personalized plaque, and $200 cash award to be donated to a local 4-H program of their choice. National winners will be announced in April, 2021. Each will receive a plaque and $1,000 cash award to be donated to a local 4-H program of their choice.

2021 Salute to Excellence Nomination Form and Template