It’s time to nominate your favorite volunteer!
The Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards (GVSA) is Tennessee’s premier volunteer recognition initiative. We strive to recognize outstanding individuals, businesses and nonprofits from across the state. Since 2008, participating counties conduct a call for nominations and recognize one outstanding youth; and one outstanding adult volunteer. We also recognize one business and one nonprofit from each of Tennessee’s three Grand Divisions (West, Middle, and East) for their outstanding community involvement and service.
Nominate an individual
Nominate a Middle Tennessee Business
Nominate a Middle TN Nonprofit
Tips for a Great Nomination
How could you make a great nomination really stand out? Here are some effective, time-proven ways to make sure your nomination is the best it can be before submitting it!
Only ONE Adult, and ONE Youth, Volunteer can receive this award each year
In 2012, Evelyn Curlee became Coffee County’s first GVSA honoree . Three Youth volunteers, age 25 and under, have been recognized so far. This prestigious award is the highest state-level honor that can be given for volunteer or charitable efforts.
Hurry: nominations MUST be received by midnight, October 31st!
Become a GVSA Sponsor!
Are you interested in helping strengthen volunteerism and community involvement in Tennessee? Simply donate to Friends of Volunteer Tennessee! This 501(c)3 nonprofit organization was created to support the programs and services of Volunteer Tennessee, including Americorps; Award of Excellence for Schools; and the Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards.
Counties
Grand Regions
Coffee County Honorees
Because each county is so unique, county coordinators are given great flexibility in their selection and recognition process. As Coffee County GVSA Cooordinator, I have worked to develop the fairest, most objective and impartial process possible.
After the October 31st submission deadline, all eligible nominations are forwarded to a selection committee comprised of Coffee County residents in various areas, professions and walks of life. To limit the impact of any potential bias, none of the selection committee members know who the other members are.
Each member reviews and scores the nominations based on criteria established by the State GVSA Coordinator; and returns the scores to me. I then tabulate the scores; and the top-scoring nominee is the award recipient. I must notify the State Coordinator in mid-November.
This is the worst part of the job for me: no one else can know who the award recipient is until mid-December! After an agonizing month cloaked in anticipation and secrecy, I get to notify the recipient in person; and publicize their selection with news articles and press releases.
The recipient is then publicly honored at the Coffee County Commission meeting in January. It all culminates with the Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards Celebration in February, when award honorees from all across Tennessee join together in Franklin for an incredible event recognizing the best of the Volunteer State.
Although only the top nominee will receive this award, I congratulate and thank every volunteer in Coffee County: we’re a better community because you do your part to ensure it!
– G. Lamar Wilkie, Coffee County GVSA Coordinator
Join our mission. Volunteer, Donate, Advocate. Get Started Today.
Email: volunteer.tennessee@tn.gov
Call Anytime: (615) 253-1426