Achievement Awards Frequently Asked Questions

All award nomination forms can be found on SourceAmerica’s website. From the homepage, select Get Involved from the menu at the top. When the dropdowns appear, select Achievement Awards and then click the Nominate Now button. This will take you to the nominations page, where you can select the award you’re interested in.

Visit the Achievement Awards Tips to Nominate page on SourceAmerica’s website. Review these tips as well as award-specific criteria for any award you are considering. Pay particular attention to the key elements your submission must include. These are different for each award and are listed within the nomination form. If your submission does not include them, it will significantly hinder your nominee’s chances of winning.

Nominees for the William M. Usdane Award, the Honor Roll for Veterans Award, and the Tom Miller Advocacy Award must be currently employed on an AbilityOne contract. Nominees for the Evelyne Villines Award are individuals who have advanced from work on an AbilityOne contract into management within the nonprofit agency or into private or government employment.

Absolutely!

No. Your NPA can only submit a nominee for one award category. You can, however, submit other nominees for other categories. Please review the criteria for each award to determine which one is the best fit for your nominee.

NPAs can submit either a one-to-two-page, single-spaced essay or a one-to-two-minute video. Whichever format you choose, your submission must address that award's specific requirements. Both essay and video submissions can include up to three supporting documents as attachments.

Essay and video submissions should address the award-specific criteria, explain (and provide examples of) how your nominee meets the criteria, and make the case for why they are the best candidate to win that particular award.

Supporting documents should reinforce what you have said in your nomination. For example, supporting documents can be news articles or videos about your nominee winning another award; positive quotes about/reviews of their work; videos of them on the job, advocating, or volunteering; and anything else you think supports your nomination. You can include up to three supporting documents.

Yes, everyone who submits a nomination will be notified before the Achievement Awards Banquet, which takes place in the Spring of 2025.

A video that was previously made about a nominee can be included as a supporting document. Achievement Award nomination essays and videos should speak directly to the criteria of the award. Nominations that do not address the required elements of that award will not be positioned for success.

Supporting documents are optional but encouraged. Examples of supporting documents include news articles, award certificates, positive quotes/praise from managers or co-workers, a press release that mentions them, a video or photo of them on the job or volunteering, a speech given by the nominee, etc.

The Achievement Awards are highly competitive, and while we receive many amazing submissions, in the end, there can only be one winner. For example, last year we received more than 30 submissions for one of the employee awards. That translates into a lot of great submissions that don’t win an award.

That doesn’t mean those submissions go unnoticed. We often review Achievement Award nominations when we're looking for an NPA or an employee to feature in a video or news story.

Make sure your nomination essay or video directly addresses the award-specific criteria, provide multiple detailed examples that are unique to your nominee, and submit compelling supporting documentation. Whether you choose to submit an essay or a video, let your passion for your nominee shine through!

Yes! We've got a sample essay to help you get the ball rolling. And if you have questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us at AchievementAwards@SourceAmerica.org.