Virginia Hart Award - Nominations

Award Guidelines

The Virginia Hart Award recognizes the service of individual's whose contributions to clients, co-workers, or the public are substantial. The award's emphasis is on recognizing "unsung heroes" in state service, thus providing encouragement and recognition to all individuals in state government. Qualities might include:

• Held in high esteem from peers
  

• Acceptance of responsibility beyond the limits of nominee’s job description​

• Sustained, extraordinary achievement of assigned tasks
  

• Performance recognition from clients
  

• Community service

• Overcoming handicaps to performance

• Self-improvement

This list of qualities is not exhaustive. It identifies, however, the qualities Ms. Hart exemplified when the Special Recognition Award was established.​

Nomination Eligibility

Nominations can be made by anyone. Nominees can be in classified (represented or non-represented) or unclassified service and from any part of the state. However,​ Limited Term Employees and employees of the University and Legislature are not eligible for consideration. A single recipient will be selected for recognition.​

Making a Nomination​​

Please help make the recognition award a success by nominating an individual who makes a real difference in state service. The winner of this year’s award will receive a monetary stipend from the Virginia Hart Award Fund and will be honored in an awards presentation.

The 2026 nomination period is now open. Please utilize the form below to make a nomination by Friday, September 11, 2026.

2026 Virginia Hart Fillable Nomination Form