Award of Excellence For Schools
The Volunteer Tennessee Award of Excellence for Volunteerism and Service-Learning annually recognizes K-12 schools (both private and public) that actively promote student involvement in volunteerism and community service. Winners will be recognized at the 2024 Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service Learning in Franklin, Tennessee!
Volunteer Tennessee, the governor's commission on volunteerism and community service, designed this program for schools to be honored for their outstanding work in the areas of community service, service-learning, and volunteerism. The purpose of the recognition is to promote youth engagement in the improvement of their local communities.
To align the award with Volunteer Tennessee's mission, commission members have identified food security, safe housing, and mentorship of school-aged children as critical components to success. Therefore, service-learning projects that address challenges related to food insecurity, people experiencing homelessness, and offering mentorship to school aged children will receive bonus points in the scoring rubric.
Additional Opportunity for Schools Engaged in Service
The 2024 Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning will include a Student Track planned specifically by and for middle school, high school, and college students. This track will provide a space for Tennessee youth to connect over volunteerism, service-learning, and community engagement.
2024 Award of Excellence Application is Available!
All K-12 schools are invited to apply. For a school to be considered for the Volunteer Tennessee Award of Excellence for the 2022-2023 academic year activities, the school must complete the electronic application. Application deadline is November 30, 2023.
Please review information and items needed before completing the application. The absence of required items and information may disqualify the application. Winners will be notified December 31, 2023.
How Applications are Scored
Total Points Possible: 105
Platinum Award Winner: Must score at least 95 points. Highest scoring school will win.
Gold Status: Must score at least 80 points.
Silver Status: Must score at least 75 points.
Bronze Status: Must score at least 70 points.
If you have any questions about the Award of Excellence program, please contact Candace Taylor, Volunteer Tennessee's training and special events manager.
The following schools were recognized at the 2022 Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning held on February 14, 2022.
- Carpenters Elementary School, Maryville
- Central Magnet School, Murfreesboro
- Heritage High School, Maryville
- Jefferson County High School, Dandridge
- Madison Academy, Madison
- Mill Creek Middle School, Nolensville
- Newcomer International Center, Memphis
- Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge
- Unaka High School, Elizabethton
- Union Elementary STEM and Demonstration School, Gallatin
The following schools were recognized at the 2021 Virtual Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning on February 8, 2021:
- Beacon Academy
- Central Magnet School
- Fayette Academy
- Jackson Central-Merry Early College High School
- South Knoxville Elementary
- Unaka High School
- Union Elementary STEAM and Demonstration School
- University School of Nashville
- Whitwell High School
The virtual recognition ceremony is available to watch here.
The following schools were recognized at the 2020 Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning on February 11, 2020:
- Beacon Academy, Collegedale, TN
- Central Magnet School, Murfreesboro, TN
- Dover Elementary School, Dover, TN
- Ensworth School- High School Division, Nashville, TN
- Friendship Christian School, Lebanon, TN
- Jackson Central-Merry Early College High School, Jackson, TN
- Jefferson County High School, Dandridge, TN
- Johnson County High School, Mountain City, TN
- Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, TN
- Middle Tennessee Christian School, Murfreesboro, TN
- South Knoxville Elementary School, Knoxville, TN (Not pictured below)
- South Pittsburg High School, Pittsburg, TN
- Unaka High School, Elizabethton, TN
- Union Elementary STEM and Demonstration School, Gallatin, TN
- University School of Nashville,Nashville, TN
- Whitwell High School, Whitwell, TN
The following schools were recognized at the 2019 Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning on February 11, 2019:
• Beacon Academy
• Central Magnet School
• Fayette Academy
• Ivy Academy Chattanooga
• Jefferson County High School
• South Pittsburg High School
• Unaka High School
• Union Elementary STEM and Demonstration School
• University School of Nashville
• Whitwell High School
