The Jefferson Awards for Public Service honors outstanding volunteerism at the local and national level. Your Hometown Lima Stations, United Way of Greater Lima and The Lima News bring this prestigious recognition program to the six-county area of Allen, Auglaize, Putnam, Hardin, Hancock and Van Wert.

A panel of area leaders will select eight local Jefferson Award winners. Of the eight selected, three nominations will advance to the national level.

A national committee will then choose one of the three to attend the National Ceremony in Washington, D.C., which will be held in June. This volunteer will join other local Jefferson Award volunteers from across America. In Washington, the local winner will have the opportunity of receiving one of the five gold medallion Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Awards for greatest public service benefiting local communities.