It's that time of year to start thinking about recognizing someone in your life who has gone above and beyond helping others. Nominations are now being sought for the 2025 Jefferson Awards for Public Service. The national award was started in 1972 and has grown into a recognition program that highlights the volunteer service of thousands of individuals and organizations across the nation. Locally, more than 200 people have been Jefferson Award recipients since its start here in 2001. Each year one person is picked to move on to the national level.

December 11, 2024, Press Release from Rhodes State College: LIMA, Ohio, December 11, 2024 - Nominations are open through January 20 for the Rhodes State College 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award (OAA) and Circle of Excellence. Community members are invited to nominate graduates of Rhodes State College or Lima Technical College who have achieved distinguished accomplishments and brought recognition to themselves and the College. The Outstanding Alumni Award recipient will be honored through a named Outstanding Alumni Scholarship. Both the OAA recipient and the Circle of Excellence inductees will be recognized at the Rhodes State College Commencement on May 3, 2025.

December 11, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Congressman Bob Latta: BOWLING GREEN, OH — Today, Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5) announced his nominations of students from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District for consideration to be accepted into the United States Air Force, Merchant Marine, Military, and Naval Academies in the Class of 2029. "I'm proud to announce today that I am nominating 20 students who reside in Ohio's Fifth District to attend one of our prestigious U.S. Military Service Academies," Latta said. "Each of these students have demonstrated they have the knowledge and ability to succeed at one of our Military Service Academies, and I'm honored to nominate them for consideration. I wish them the best as they continue through the interview and selection process, and I want to thank them for pursuing this path to serve our great country."

October 2, 2024, Press Release from the Fort Findlay FOP Lodge 20 Foundation: (Findlay, OH) - Findlay and Hancock County invite the community to nominate candidates for King and Queen for the 2024 Cops & Kids Findlay Halloween Parade presented by loanDepot. These individuals should exemplify the Halloween spirit by excelling in home decoration, costume planning, or participating in Halloween-related events and activities.

September 16, 2024, Press Release from the Lima/Allen County Regional Planning Commission: LIMA—The Lima-Allen County Safe Community Coalition is seeking nominations for its 26th Annual Safety Award ceremony, which will be held in October. The members of the coalition would like anyone in the community to submit a nomination for someone who has shown great leadership in Allen County when it comes to serving and protecting others. Categories include safety in: EMS, fire, youth, and traffic engineering, as well as outstanding service, outstanding citizen, and lifetime achievement.

Agriculture in Allen County represents nearly 139 million dollars of revenue a year, and 80% of the landmass in the county is agriculture. Nominations are now being accepted for the 12th induction of the Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce's Agriculture Hall of Fame. They are looking for people who meet the criteria for both producers and breeders, as well as those who are agriculturally related.

The local Jefferson Awards Committee is looking for a few good men, women and youth for this year's recognition.

Nominations are now being accepted for this prestigious volunteer award recognizing community service. They are accepting entries from Allen, Auglaize, Hardin, Hancock, Putnam and Van Wert counties.