The Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Award

2024 Nomination Information

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission once again welcomes nominations of current students, faculty, and staff members of public and private, two- and four-year colleges and universities who are engaged in dedicated public service for the 2024 Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Awards.

Institutions may nominate up to two individuals from each category (students and faculty/staff). For full consideration, each nomination must include:

Two (2) letters of recommendation – one (1) from the President/Chancellor of the institution and one (1) from a community member not related to the nominee.
Evidence of impact – select ONE (1) of the following, including but not limited to a news article, press release, news media (video) clip, program brochure, or program website URL. Please note that due to the number of nominations received, additional documents will not be evaluated.
A short biographical sketch (no more than 150 words) and a high-resolution headshot of the nominee.

All nominations should be submitted online:

https://stateoftennessee.formstack.com/forms/love_awards

on or before close of business on Friday, March 15, 2023.

Incomplete or late nominations will not be considered.

An award ceremony honoring the recipients will be held in Nashville on April 29, 2024. Further questions about the nomination process may be directed to Dr. Brittany Mosby, Brittany.Mosby@tn.gov.

History of Community Service Recognition in Tennessee

Community service recognition programs for higher education students and faculty/staff at the campus level were created in Tennessee through legislation enacted by the General Assembly in 1991. In 1997, the awards were named for the late Representative Harold Love, who was instrumental in passing the enabling legislation. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission was given the charge to develop rules and regulations by which to implement these programs for public and private two and four-year postsecondary institutions across the state. A selection committee of institutional and board representatives is convened each year to review each nomination submitted by the campuses and to select the five student and five faculty/staff recipients.

The individuals selected to receive recognition represent the many dimensions of community service/volunteer work, public service, charitable service, and leadership roles in community organizations. The award recipients serve as ambassadors for community service among the diverse higher education communities in Tennessee. Each recipient will receive a $1,000 cash prize.

Love is in the House

Elected to the General Assembly in 1968, Representative Harold Love, Sr., was known for his compassion and good humor. A prominent Nashville insurance salesman, Rep. Love also served on the board of directors for the South Street Center and the Eighteenth Avenue Community Center. He graduated from Tennessee State University and was awarded its Distinguished Alumnus Award.

With the welfare of his community as his primary concern, Rep. Love would go to any lengths to help a constituent in need, even if it meant giving from his own pocket. That is why, whenever he was present during a session of the House of Representatives, it was said, “Love is in the House.”