Nominations Open for Peace Corps Prestigious John F. Kennedy Service Awards
John, I would like to nominate Maureen Orth for a John F. Kennedy Service Award. The Foundation she founded is…
July 20, 2021
From July 19 to August 13, the Peace Corps will accept nominations for awards to honor exceptional returned volunteers and staff
WASHINGTON – Today, nominations for the Peace Corps’ John F. Kennedy Service Awards will open and be accepted until 11:59 p.m., Friday, August 13, 2021. The award, presented every five years, honors President John F. Kennedy’s vision, leadership, and commitment to public service by recognizing members of the Peace Corps community who have made exceptional contributions toward realizing the mission and goals of the agency.
“The Peace Corps community is made up of incredibly dedicated people who share a passion for service above self,” said Acting Director Carol Spahn. “I am inspired every day by the fierce commitment of our staff and volunteers and it will certainly be a challenge to select the winners.”
John F. Kennedy Service Award candidates must demonstrate outstanding service and leadership that furthers the Peace Corps’ mission and its three goals. The awards are typically presented to two current Peace Corps volunteers, two Peace Corps staff members, one returned Peace Corps Response volunteer, and one returned Peace Corps volunteer. This year, due to the unique circumstances stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the awards will include two current or former (within five years) Peace Corps staff members, two returned Peace Corps Response volunteers and two returned Peace Corps volunteers.
Those who are interested in nominating a returned Peace Corps volunteer or staff member for this award can do so here.
President John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps by executive order on March 1, 1961. Since then, over 240,000 American citizens have served abroad with the agency, promoting world peace and friendship.
John,
I would like to nominate Maureen Orth for a John F. Kennedy Service Award. The Foundation she founded is transforming education in Colombia, beginning with the rural school she helped initiate while a Volunteer in 1964-65, her Foundation has now expanded to 19 schools in one of Colombia’s poorest geographic areas. It promotes education for underprivileged youth as the best way to empower them to build their own futures. The Foundation’s Mission is to give its students and teachers the tools to compete in the 21st Century. From that first school which focused on teaching English as a foreign language has now morphed into schools which had robust curricula in STEM, computers’ use, Robotics, IT Programs, and Vocational Training. It recently introduced XO laptops in the Choco, Colombia’s most neglected area of extreme poverty.