Nominations Now Open for the 2017 “Oscars” of Government Service

January 5, 2017

WASHINGTON – The nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service today announced that nominations are now open for the 2017 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals (Sammies) – the most prestigious awards honoring America’s best in government. Nominations are being accepted through Sunday, January 15 and can be submitted at servicetoamericamedals.org by anyone familiar with the nominee’s work and accomplishments.

The awards, including Federal Employee of the Year, will be presented to outstanding federal employees and teams at the 2017 Sammies gala this fall in Washington, D.C. Winners are selected based on four main criteria: the impact of their work, how well they foster innovation, demonstrated leadership and commitment to public service.

In the spring, thirty finalists will be recognized on Capitol Hill during Public Service Recognition Week. All of the 2017 Service to America Medals finalists are also eligible to win the People’s Choice Award, which allows the public to vote for the federal employee they believe has made the most admirable contribution to the American people.

Previous Service to America Medals went to public servants whose achievements include creating a unique public-private initiative to increase patient safety and reduce hospital readmissions, assisting the investigation of nearly every high-profile bomb attack in the past several years, and managing billions of dollars in critical medication and supplies available to supplement state and local resources during public health emergencies. Medal categories include Call to Service, Career Achievement, Citizens Services, Homeland Security and Law Enforcement, Science and Environment and other categories related to specific government fields. All career civilian federal employees are eligible to be a medal recipient.

The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals program is named in memory of business leader and visionary philanthropist Samuel J. Heyman who founded the Partnership for Public Service in 2001. For more than 15 years, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service has been dedicated to making the federal government more effective for the American people. 

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