Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District Service Awards

Each year, the office of Congressman Joe Neguse is honored to award residents of Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District with service awards honoring outstanding members of the community for their commitment to the betterment of our state. The awards include the Josie Heath Community Service Award, the Building Bridges Award, Volunteer of the Year, First Responder of the Year, Educator of the Year, the Mollie H. Beattie Congressional Award for Distinguished Environmental Scholarship, the Dorothy Rupert High School Service Award, and the Gloria T. Tanner Congressional Award for Outstanding Community Service. 

Please find additional information about each award, including details on requirements and eligibility below. 

The office of Congressman Neguse is now accepting nominations for the Gloria T. Tanner Congressional Award for Outstanding Community Service. The nominee must live, work, or provide services in the 2nd Congressional District. To nominate an outstanding member of the community, please complete this form by Monday, February 12, 2024. 

The Gloria T. Tanner Congressional Award for Outstanding Community Service

For community members who exhibit outstanding community service and leadership.  

WATCH HERE: Rep. Neguse Gives Remarks in Memory of Gloria Tanner

The Gloria T. Tanner Congressional Award for Outstanding Community Service is awarded annually to a Coloradan who demonstrates a record of leadership and community service, as Senator Tanner throughout her distinguished career. The award honors the legacy of an extraordinary public servant, whose leadership & dedication will inspire future generations for years to come.

Gloria Tanner was elected to the Colorado State House in 1985 and became the second African American representative to hold a leadership position as the House Minority Caucus Leader. In 1994 she became the first Black woman State Senator in Colorado history. In her 16 years at the Colorado Legislature, she left a legacy that made Colorado a better place. She spearheaded civil rights efforts and sponsored critical legislation such as banning marital discrimination in the workplace, parental responsibility, worker’s compensation cost savings, civil rights for women and historically underserved communities, and parental rights for adoptive parents. She also worked toward legislation on an abandoned baby law; nearly 70 babies have been saved in Colorado since the safe haven law was enacted in 2000.

Gloria Tanner was an extraordinary public servant whose accomplishments span beyond the Colorado Capitol walls. Tanner was the brainchild and co-founder of Colorado Black Women for Political Action (CBWPA), founded in 1977 because she wanted to encourage African-American participation in the political process and serve as a political advocate for the African-American community. She was the co-founder of the Colorado Black Roundtable (CBRT), chaired the Colorado Caucus of Black Elected Officials, and served as the national executive director of the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL-Women), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that trains African-American women to run for office and supports them to seek positions on boards and commissions.

Throughout her career, she bravely broke down barriers—not for herself but for the next generation of leaders. In 2001 she established the Senator Gloria Tanner Leadership and Training Institute for Future Black Women Leaders of Colorado to identify, prepare, educate, and mentor Black women to take on roles of leadership in the public and private sectors. Her commitment to bringing more people into the political process—centering those who are historically neglected—paved the way for generations of future political leaders.

Submissions for the 2023 Fall Service Awards are now closed.

Congressional Service Awards Descriptions

Josie Heath Community Service Award: 

For community members who exhibit a commitment to the service of others & the betterment of their community.

Josie Heath is a devoted public servant; she served for more than twenty years (1995-2017) as CEO and President of the Community Foundation Boulder County and for eight years as Boulder County Commissioner (1982-1990). She is the founder of the Mile High Youth Corps and one of the founders of the Women's Foundation of Colorado. During the Clinton administration, she was the Assistant to the Director of the White House Office of National Service and played a key role in the establishment of Americorps. 

The Josie Heath Community Service Award will be given to the community member in Colorado’s Second Congressional District who best exhibits a commitment to the service of others, the betterment of the community, and dedication to social justice. These were the foundation of Josie Heath’s life and career, who made Colorado history as a community activist, educator, and elected official who is committed to improving the quality of life for all who live in Colorado.

Congressman Neguse invites community members throughout the second congressional district to nominate someone who they believe best exhibits commitment to the service of others, the betterment of the community, and dedication to social justice. Josie Heath embodies compassion, empathy, open-mindedness, commitment, sincerity, never-give-up determination, and joy—we ask that community members nominate a person who reflects these qualities.

Building Bridges Award: 

For an individual or group of individuals who work across political & social divides to solve major issues.

Congressman Neguse invites organizations, departments, and community members to nominate an individual or group that demonstrates leadership and outstanding ability and leadership to unify and build bridges.

Volunteer of the Year: 

For volunteers in the district who exhibit an outstanding devotion to their work in the community.

Volunteers make our community a better place. Without the significant contributions of volunteers, the work of many organizations and nonprofits would not be possible. The Volunteer of the Year Congressional Service Award will be presented to an individual for their volunteer work for an organization or the community in the second congressional district. 

Congressman Neguse invites organizations, groups, and community members based in the second congressional district to nominate an outstanding volunteer whose time, investment, and selfless dedicated volunteer work contributes to the betterment of our community.

First Responder of the Year: 

For first responders in the district who exhibit an outstanding devotion to their profession & protecting their community.

First responders are always on the front lines when our community is faced with disaster. They show incredible bravery, commitment, and service in the face of sometimes life-threatening events. The 2nd Congressional District has experienced disaster after disaster in the last several years -- from a mass shooting, wildfires, and floods. We are able to find a way to build back and come together as a community thanks in large part to first responders. The First Responder of the Year Congressional Service Award will be presented to a first responder in the second congressional district to recognize a first responder who demonstrates an overwhelming dedication to their profession and their community.

Congressman Neguse invites you to nominate a first responder who deserves recognition for their dedication, selflessness, and heroic, lifesaving work they are doing for our communities each and every day. Eligibility: First responders, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians.

Educator of the Year: 

For current teachers who exhibit an outstanding commitment to preparing & educating students.

Across the 2nd district and our nation, we depend on our educators to inspire the next generation of young people in our society. We’ve all witnessed the dedication and selflessness of our nation’s educators. Since the pandemic, teachers have gone above and beyond to help children learn. The Educator of the Year Congressional Service Award will be presented to an exemplary educator in the second congressional district who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to preparing and educating students. 

Congressman Neguse invites students, parents, principals, and community members to nominate a teacher currently working within a private or public K-12 school in the Second Congressional District who they believe should be recognized for being an outstanding educator.

The Mollie H. Beattie Congressional Award for Distinguished Environmental Scholarship: 

For undergraduate college students whose clear passion, scholastic excellence, and desire to serve and impact their field of study display potential for environmental vision and leadership.

“As environmental scientists and policy leaders we must ask ourselves, ‘What have I done that actually helped the balance of ecosystems and preserved and protected all species – including our own?’” – Mollie H. Beattie

Mollie Beattie’s path toward environmental leadership was driven by a lifelong relationship with the natural world, early and growing concern for the health of habitats and ecosystems, and her unique ability to articulate the risks and complexities of environmental issues in passionate and understandable terms.  Her many accomplishments stem from the same traits: a clear and informed science-based understanding of the issues, an ability to listen and discuss differences with compassion, a dedication to truth and honesty, and the courage to stand by her convictions in the face of political heat, and her deep sense that by speaking up to protect wildlife habitat and wilderness – she was speaking on behalf of all the wild species who had no voice.

Mollie’s path became the clearest as a young woman in Colorado – where she was an Outward Bound instructor based in Leadville for many years. Along the way, she studied forestry, biology, and wildlife habitat and became one of only a few female foresters in New England. She served in the Vermont State government as Director of Forests, Parks, and Recreation; received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and ultimately was appointed by President Clinton, and confirmed by the Senate, to become the first woman to serve as director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service overseeing thousands of USFWS employees, hundreds of National Wildlife Refuges, and notably – administering the Endangered Species Act.  One of her most rewarding efforts as USFWS director was the successful reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park in 1995. After a year-long battle with cancer, Mollie died in 1996 at the age of 49.

The Mollie H. Beattie Congressional Award for Distinguished Environmental Scholarship will be given to a college student within Colorado’s Second Congressional District, whose clear passion, scholastic excellence, desire to serve and impact their field of study, and displays potential for environmental vision and leadership exemplified by the late Mollie H. Beattie, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under President Bill Clinton.

Congressman Neguse invites college and university faculty members (professors, deans, administrators, counselors, etc) throughout the second congressional district to nominate an undergraduate college student who they believe best exhibits scholastic passion and excellence and displays the potential for environmental vision and leadership. Eligibility Requirements: All undergraduate college students focused on the areas of environmental studies; natural resources conservation and management; biology and ecological sciences; and/or wildlife, forestry, habitat, and wilderness management – either within their related sciences or within the studies of environmental law or policy are eligible for this award.

Dorothy Rupert High School Service Award: 

For high school students who exhibit a commitment to bettering their community & social justice.

“A powerful way of truly seeing another person is to look into each other’s face and with no words say ‘I am glad you are here. You have every right to be here.’” - Dorothy Rupert

Dorothy Rupert was a beloved high school teacher and counselor for 35 years. She cared deeply for her students and witnessed injustices that she was passionate about addressing, so she followed her conviction and ran for the Colorado State Legislature. Dorothy then served for 9 years in the state House of Representatives and 5 years in the state Senate – during which she worked tirelessly for civil rights for minorities, women, and the LGBTQ community, as well as for the well-being of Colorado's children. 

Dorothy has been a pillar of her community for decades and has inspired and mentored countless young people to pursue social justice and to create a better, more caring, and compassionate world. The Dorothy Rupert High School Service Award will be given to the high school student in Colorado’s Second Congressional District who best exhibits a commitment to the service of others and a dedication to social justice which are the foundation of Dorothy Rupert’s life and career.

Congressman Neguse invites high school principals, counselors, teachers, and community members throughout the second congressional district to nominate a high school student who they believe best exhibits commitment to the service of others and dedication to their community. Dorothy embodies fierce determination, resilience, and warmth with a heart as vast as the Rocky Mountains, and we ask that nominees reflect these qualities.