Dare County is now accepting nominations for the 2027 North Carolina Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards, offering a platform to recognize residents who have dedicated their time and talent to the community.
The application window is open, with a firm submission deadline set for 5 p.m. on Friday, January 22, 2027.
This annual program highlights individuals, groups, and businesses from the public, nonprofit, and private sectors that have made a measurable impact in North Carolina. To be eligible, nominees must have contributed significant volunteer service, though self-nominations are not permitted. Individuals who have received this award within the last 10 years are also ineligible for consideration.
Local nominations will be reviewed by a committee tasked with selecting the top 10 volunteers within Dare County. Following this local selection, the county award coordinator is responsible for managing the formal submission process to the state.
Selection Process and Eligibility Criteria
Beyond the local honors, the program includes the Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service. Established in 2006, this prestigious recognition is reserved for the top 20–25 volunteers across the state. Each county is restricted to a single nomination for the Medallion, which is evaluated by a statewide panel rather than a local committee.
According to official guidance from Dare County, nominations are evaluated based on the nominee’s specific volunteer efforts, their accomplishments, the time commitment involved, and their overall impact on the community. Interested parties can find detailed information on how to craft an effective nomination by visiting the Dare County government portal.
Nominations may be submitted across a broad range of categories, including:
- Veteran/Military: Supporting military families or veterans.
- Serving Youth: Mentoring or educational initiatives.
- Disaster: Preparedness, response, or recovery efforts.
- Environmental: Commitment to stewardship.
- Lifetime Achievement: Recognizing 20 or more years of dedicated service.
Diverse Categories for Recognition
The awards program seeks to capture the breadth of community service by offering categories based on both the type of work and the demographic of the volunteer. Nominators can select from various designations, such as youth, senior, Latino, faith-based entities, or corporate groups. There is also a category for “perseverance in volunteerism,” specifically for individuals or teams who have overcome significant personal, physical, or mental obstacles to serve others.
While volunteers may be nominated in multiple categories, the committee requires that each submission focus on only one individual or one specific group, team, or family unit. The nomination process is managed locally by Shannon Glaser, who can be reached at 252-475-5753 or via email at [email protected] for questions regarding the criteria or application forms.
Following the January 22 deadline, the local committee will finalize its review of all submissions. The selected honorees will represent the county’s volunteer spirit in the broader state-level recognition program.
