Nominations sought for Bob Graham Center Citizen of Year, Young Floridian Award

February 21, 2014

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Nominations are now being accepted for the Bob Graham Center Citizen of the Year and Young Floridian Award.

The Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida has established the awards to recognize Florida residents who have made substantial contributions to the state and its people, who can serve as inspiring examples to young people, and whose achievements will help encourage young people to embrace the ethic of service as a value in their life.

The Bob Graham Center Citizen of the Year and Young Floridian will be selected among individuals who mirror Graham’s commitment to the common good. Nominees for the Young Floridian Award should be under 40 as of March 21, 2014.

Last year’s honorees included Nathaniel Reed, vice chairman, Everglades Foundation and vice chairman, Florida Conservation Coalition; Martha Barnett, partner, Holland & Knight and past president, American Bar Association; and Ellen Freidin, campaign chairwoman, Fair Districts Now and FairDistrictsFlorida.org.

To be eligible for the award, an individual must be a current Florida resident who has lived in the state for at least five years. Nominees should have made a substantial contribution to the state. Such a contribution can take many forms, but its impact should be broadly felt.

Nominations are welcomed from any source, although the candidate should not be self-nominated. Nominators should complete the application form, which can be found at http://www.bobgrahamcenter.ufl.edu/coy. All nominations should be received by March 21 for consideration.

An external panel of leading citizens, drawn from various backgrounds in Florida, will select the winners for the two awards. The winner will be announced at the annual gathering of the Bob Graham Center for Public Service on June 3 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando.