Over the years, the public sector has thrived under very difficult circumstances. From shrinking budgets to waves of retirement, public servants have struggled to maintain the same level of service to citizens and in many cases have even worked harder to ensure that services remain at the highest level. In the post Great Recession era, the functions of government have not changed but their demands on their services have.

Despite growing anti-government sentiments, government remains the best organization to address the large scale problems that face the country. And at the heart of addressing these challenges, like natural resources management, energy efficiency and community development are hardworking civil servants. A collection of people dedicated to public service help to strengthen government’s work. 

Their work often goes unnoticed and unacknowledged—after all, they are just doing their job, right?Yes, they are. But as any leadership training and team building study will tell you, individuals are motivated to produce when they feel appreciated and that their work is making a difference. And many of our public servants are making a difference.

The difference they are making is why the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) presents Awards of Excellence every year at its Annual Conference. The awards are presented to individuals working at any level of government to strengthen the work of the public sector, develop a new generation of leaders or contribute scholarship to the field of public administration.

ASPA invites nominations of extraordinary individuals who have made a difference in the public sector. From our National Public Service Award which recognizes a lifetime of service to the public, outstanding leadership and model mentors. Other awards will honor work to promote social equity, lifetime scholarship, affirmative action and performance measurement.  The deadline for submissions is December 9.