Volunteer Tennessee's Award of Excellence Program for Schools |
Award of Excellence for Volunteerism and Service-Learning Recognition
Welcome to the Award of Excellence Application!
We invite all K-12 schools to apply for the Volunteer Tennessee Award of Excellence for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Volunteer Tennessee thanks every applicant for your service to your community and we are grateful for all you do! Our mission is to encourage volunteerism and community service, and we are proud to support programs that make a significant impact.
To be considered for this prestigious award, please complete the electronic application by November 15, 2025. Please review all required information and items before submitting your application, as incomplete submissions may be disqualified.
Evaluation Criteria:
VT Attributes of Service Excellence (50%): Assesses how the program demonstrates excellence in service across key attributes.
Supporting Data and/or Metrics (25%): Evaluates how well the application uses measurable results, data, or community feedback to show program effectiveness and outcomes.
Narrative Clarity and Quality (15%): Considers how creatively and effectively the applicant tells their story, regardless of format (e.g., written, visual, video). Judges should evaluate how well the submission captures attention and conveys impact.
Innovation or Unique Contributions (10%): Rewards programs that offer something new, creative, or uniquely responsive to community needs.
Award recipients will be notified by December 31, 2025, and honored at the 2025 Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning in Nashville, Tennessee.
If you have any questions about the Award of Excellence program, please contact Candace Taylor, Training and Special Events Manager, at Candace.Taylor@tn.gov.