Nominations open for the Ohio University Outstanding Community Partner Awards

Ohio University students, staff and faculty are encouraged to submit nominations for 2024 OHIO Outstanding Community Partner Awards. Established in 2023, this annual award cycle recognizes and celebrates the external partners that help OHIO advance student success, contribute to resilient communities, and develop life-long engaged citizens. 

“Partnerships between community individuals or organizations and Ohio University to advance student success is of paramount importance in higher education,” said David Nguyen, Dean of University College. “Working together to create opportunities that can greatly benefit the community and provide learning experiences for students is tremendous. Community partners have been generous in supporting our work and I'm so pleased to see them recognized for such efforts.”

Partnerships may include community-engaged research, curricular or co-curricular engagement, special projects, or other mutually beneficial initiatives that enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching, and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good. Nominations are accepted from each Ohio University campus community. 

Last year, the Institutional Partner of the Year was awarded to Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C), who was nominated by Dr. Jacqueline Yahn of OHIO Eastern. Dr. Tasha Werry, the Executive Director at BB2C, accepted the award and continues to establish positive impact within OHIO campus communities, local schools, and local communities through the Rural Teachers Fellowship Program, a partnership through the Patton College of Education. 

"BB2C is honored to receive this award,” said Werry. “Partnering is fun and it is hard work, but the results for the rural teachers are more than worth it. The ultimate goal is to reach more people in our community and to connect them in meaningful ways, and partnerships help to pool resources and increase our reach. Thank you so much for recognizing our work!"

The other 2023 awardees were:

• The Alexander School District, Athens Campus
• The Ross County Community Action Commission–Head Start, Chillicothe Campus
• The Fairfield County Workforce Center, Lancaster Campus
• The Lawrence County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Southern Campus
• The Zanesville Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce, Zanesville Campus

Learn more about last year’s winners.

“The institution-wide Community Partner Awards recognize and elevate partnerships that are led by the community’s identified priorities, are jointly designed and implemented, are asset and justice based in their approach, and result in mutual benefit," said Mary Nally, Director of the Center for Community Engagement. “These awards demonstrate our value for OHIO’s community partners, and their expertise and contributions that both add capacity to the university community and also create real and lasting positive impacts in the SE Ohio region, in the U.S., or globally.”

Details regarding the awards process and eligibility can be found on the Community Engagement Awards webpage. Nominations for 2024 are open, and interested Ohio University stakeholders can Access the Nomination Form via GivePulse to submit their nominee(s). Submissions are accepted until June 1. Nominations will be reviewed by a review committee convened by the Center for Community Engagement over the summer and selected awardees will be notified on Aug. 1. The Outstanding Community Partner Award will be presented at the annual Community Engagement Symposium in September.