Volunteers make the world go around, and the North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is looking to reward them.

The state is seeking nominations for the 2018 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award, and those in the running are people who have an “outstanding commitment to volunteerism and to the agency or organization they served,” some outstanding accomplishments in their volunteering resumes and have impacted the community by meeting critical needs.

Lisa Woolard, executive director of Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children, is coordinating the nominations in both Beaufort and Hyde counties.

“We have not had anyone nominated from Beaufort or Hyde lately,” Woolard said. “I need some nominations.”

Each year, a set number of people are chosen to receive the award, which is given at a ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion in Raleigh. Those selected are those who’ve gone above and beyond their volunteer duty.

According to the nomination form, the requirements are as follows:

• Nominees must have been engaged in volunteer activities for a minimum of one year in North Carolina and benefited a community or communities in the state in a substantial, important or unique way.  Volunteer service performed outside the state will not be considered.
• Students receiving course credits for their volunteer activities are ineligible unless the nomination is based on volunteer service that extends beyond the course requirements, in which case it must be clearly indicated in the nomination statement.
• National Service volunteers must be nominated for service above and beyond that which is required of them in their national service program.  Volunteer time recorded in a national service program will not be eligible.
• Previous award recipients from within the past 10 years are ineligible.
• Nominees are ineligible if they receive compensation for their service.
• Nomination cannot be based upon court-mandated community service.
• Nomination cannot be based upon serving as a “loaned executive.”
• Self-nominations are not allowable.
• Family members may not nominate another family member for an award.
• Group/team and corporate volunteerism nominations must be made by those external to the group/team or corporation/business.
• All nomination submission requirements must be met.
• Director of Volunteers who are paid for their service must be nominated in the non-volunteer service category.

Woolard said she needs nominations in by Jan. 12 in order to meet the state deadline of Jan. 31.

“This is an opportunity to recognize an outstanding volunteer,” she said. “It’s something that happens every year, so people should be looking at their friends and family, paying attention to who’s out their volunteering.”

For more information, contact Woolard at lisa@bhckids.org or call 252-975-4647, ext. 3.