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Virginia 4-H Foundation

Awards and Recognitions


PARTNER-IN-4-H AWARD

Purpose:
To recognize business/industry, organizations/associations, governmental agencies/units, and other institutions who have worked closely with Cooperative Extension in supporting the Virginia 4-H program. This special recognition is limited to those who provide sustained and significant contributions to the 4-H program.

Criteria
Recipients will be selected on the basis of the following criteria.

PLEASE ADDRESS THESE ITEMS ON THE NOMINATION FORM.

  1. Significance and quality of contribution - Scope and depth of service to the 4-H program and effectiveness in helping to meet the goals of 4-H.
  2. Tenure - must represent continuing support over a number of years.
  3. The Partner-in-4-H recognition is not to be awarded to employees of Virginia Cooperative Extension or units of VCE; to employees of 4-H Foundations and related 4-H associations, whether local, city, county, or state.

Certification:

Nominations shall be submitted to the Virginia 4-H Foundation, 5601 Cary St. Rd., Richmond, VA 23226

Recipients will be presented an award at the Virginia 4-H Foundation Donor Reception in June.

The program will be administered by the Trustees of the Virginia 4-H Foundation in conjunction with the State 4-H office.

Nomination Form


VIRGINIA 4-H ALUMNI RECOGNITION PROGRAM
Sponsored by the Virginia 4-H Foundation

Undoubtedly, one of the greatest qualities of the Virginia 4-H program is its alumni and their service to the Commonwealth. The Virginia 4-H experience has provided the Commonwealth with many outstanding leaders including former Governors Mills Godwin and Gerald Baliles, former Attorney General Mary Sue Terry, and Chief Justice Harry Carrico of the Supreme Court of Virginia. In every community throughout the state, 4-H alumni are fulfilling the 4-H pledge in making our communities, country, and world a better place through community service and leadership.

In grateful appreciation for this service and in recognition that the Virginia 4-H program is proud of its significant achievements in building leaders, the Virginia 4-H Foundation will sponsor and coordinate a 4-H Alumni Recognition program. The proposed program will offer recognition at the local, district, and state levels. Additionally, state winner will be submitted to the National 4-H Council the nominee for the National 4-H Alumni Award.

Details of the Recognition are as follows:

LOCAL UNIT:
Each local Extension unit will be encouraged to include the presentation of Alumni Awards at the annual county achievement program or appropriate forum. Nominations should be invited, received, and selected by the county 4-H Committee or similar group. The Virginia 4-H Foundation will provide certificates and alumni pins to unit winners (maximum of three per unit).

DISTRICT:
Local units will be invited to submit nominations to the Virginia 4-H Foundation for consideration of six district winners (one per district). Nominations should be individuals who have received the local unit alumni award. The Foundation's Awards and Grants Committee will review nominations and submit its recommendations to the Board of Trustees for approval. District awards (plaques) will be presented to the four winners during State 4-H Congress in June. Deadline for district nominations will be May 1, 2002.

STATE:
Annually no more than two individuals will be recognized with the VIRGINIA 4-H ALUMNI AWARD. This prestigious award will be presented at the Foundation's Donor Reception, which is held annually. Individuals who have made significant contributions to the total 4-H program and/or have achieved professionally and have made enormous contributions to society may be nominated for at-large nominations. District and at-large nominations will be reviewed for the selection of the state award. Nomination deadline will be May 1, 2002.

District winners who are not selected to the state level are encouraged to resubmit applications for the following year's application process (with additional or new information).

NATIONAL:
The winner(s) of the Virginia 4-H Alumni Award will be submitted to National 4-H Council in formal nomination to receive the National 4-H Alumni Award. If Virginia's nominee(s) are chosen among the eight national winners, the special presentation program will be created to honor the recipient during National 4-H Week. The Foundation Trustees will coordinate the details of the National Award presentation program. Past Virginia winners of the award should be included in the presentation.

Criteria
At all levels of the Alumni Recognition program, criteria for consideration should include:

  • Nominee's participation as a 4-H member
  • Nominee's citizenship and leadership abilities as given evidence by community service -- local, state, national
  • Career Accomplishments -- local, state, national
  • Continuing Commitment to 4-H and its ideals

Application:

  • Completed Application National 4-H Alumni Nomination (Form 10)
  • Letter attachment explaining contributions and mail to:
    The VA 4-H Foundation
    5601 Cary St. Rd.
    Richmond, VA 23226
    Phone 804 662-7291
    Fax 804 662-7293


THE VIRGINIA 4-H DIAMOND LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Virginia 4-H Diamond Leadership Award is the highest and most prestigious award presented by the Virginia 4-H Foundation. It recognizes impeccable long-term service and leadership to Virginia 4-H. It is designed to recognize truly outstanding thinking, service, leadership, and stewardship to the Virginia 4-H program. It is understood that the recipient has made highly significant contributions on the local, district, or state scenes in a variety of ways and with longevity.

No more than two such awards will be presented each year. The intent of the award is to recognize an individual(s), not organizations, corporations, or groups. A plaque will be presented to the recipient at the Foundation's annual donor reception in June.

Nominations may be submitted by Extension professionals, volunteers, and trustees. Ten copies of the nomination should be sent to the Virginia 4-H Foundation, 5601 Cary St. Rd., Richmond, VA 23226 by May 1, 2002. Any materials received after this date will not be considered.

GUIDELINES FOR AWARD NOMINATIONS
Generally, there are four common elements involved in the nomination:

  1. Personal Information: Typewritten nomination document that clearly identifies the candidate; kept within 2-page space limitation; include black and white glossy or color photo of nominee(s). Personal data should include, but not necessarily limited to: full name of nominee(s); current address; telephone number; birth place and date; educational background-institutions, dates of attendance, degrees; family--spouse's name, names and ages of children.
  2. Service to 4-H and the Community At-Large: Evidence of the nominee's unselfish service to 4-H at local, district, or state levels through the giving of time, talents, and personal finances; the nominee's fulfillment of the 4-H pledge "To Make the Best Better" through his/her involvement and participation in civic, community, state, regional, national, and international public service-related activities.
  3. Leadership with 4-H and the Community At-Large: Evidence of the nominee's leadership qualities as exemplified by his/her achievements in providing visionary guidance to the 4-H program in the local, district, and state arenas; the ability of the nominee to inspire and empower people to become productive, self-directed citizens.
  4. Citation Statement: Concise (no more than 60 words), well written, easy to read narrative summary that pulls everything together in proper perspective, and which makes the best possible presentation of the nominee(s).