Applications for the 2021 awards are now closed.
By November 10, 2020, students must:
- Complete the application
- Complete the student/parent agreement
- Go to the "certification'" tab on the application, then email or print and deliver instructions for your certifier
- Certifiers can be your school principal or the head of a county 4-H organization, Girl Scout council, American Red Cross chapter, YMCA or a Points of Light Global Network member.
By November 20, 2020, certifiers must:
- Review all applications for your school or organization
- Select and certify top candidates for state-level judging
How the program works
In the United States, each program year begins in September, when information and application instructions are mailed to all middle-level and high schools in the 50 United States and Washington, D.C., and to local chapters of five officially designated local organizations: Girl Scouts of the USA, National 4-H Council, American Red Cross, YMCA of the USA and a Points of Light Global Network member.
Local Honorees are selected at participating schools and organizations in November. From these winners, an independent judging organization – International Scholarship and Tuition Services – names the top volunteers in each state and Washington, D.C. Results are announced in February.
Ten National Honorees are then chosen by a panel of prominent public figures, and announced in early May at a special ceremony.