Innovation and Leadership Awards

We host an annual networking reception to celebrate national service and present the ASC Innovation and Leadership Awards, which recognize the outstanding accomplishments and leadership of state and territorial service commission staff, commissioners, AmeriCorps programs, and AmeriCorps program staff. The awards reception typically takes place during the AmeriCorps State and National Symposium in Washington, DC.

decorative. three photos. 1) Pat Guzmán-Weema smiling during conversation. 2) Judd Jeansonne, Michael Smith, and Kaira Esgate posed in front of the ASC step-and-repeat backdrop. 3) Attendees seated at tables watching the program and smiling

Previous Award Recipients

The 2024 recipients of the Innovation and Leadership Awards are as follows.
  • Friend of ASC: US Rep. Garret Graves (Louisiana)
  • State Service Leadership Award: Governor Spencer Cox (Utah)
  • Outstanding Commissioner: Phil Rutherford (Minnesota)
  • Outstanding Commission Executive Director: Phil Kolling (Vermont)
  • Outstanding Commission Staff: Beth Tailleur (New York)
  • Outstanding Service Program: Maggie's Place AmeriCorps (Arizona)
  • Outstanding Service Program Staff: Mary Zanotti (Colorado)
  • Honor Roll: Emily Haber (Massachusetts) and Audrey Suker (Minnesota)
In 2023, as part of our 25th anniversary celebrations, we recognized service commissions with the Commission Innovation Awards in lieu of our traditional awards.
  • Innovation in Grantmaking: OneStar (Texas)
  • Innovation in Policy Making: California Volunteers
  • Innovation in AmeriCorps Programming: ServeMinnesota
  • Innovation in Civic Engagement and Volunteering: Massachusetts Service Alliance
  • Innovation in Partnerships: Serve Colorado
The 2022 recipients of the Innovation and Leadership Awards are as follows.
  • Friend of ASC: Schultz Family Foundation (Washington)
  • State Service Leadership Award: Governor Gavin Newsom (California)
  • Outstanding Commissioner: Charlette Kremer (Idaho)
  • Outstanding Commission Executive Director: John Kelly (Colorado)
  • Outstanding Commission Staff: Kate Scheuritzel (Connecticut)
  • Outstanding Service Program: Green Iowa AmeriCorps (Iowa)
  • Outstanding Service Program Staff: Erika Hermosillo (California)
  • Honor Roll: LaDawn Stoddard (Utah)
The 2021 recipients of the Innovation and Leadership Awards are as follows.
  • Friend of ASC
    • Congressman David E. Price (North Carolina)
    • Congresswoman Doris Matsui (California)
    • Congressman Tom Cole (Oklahoma)
    • Congressman Michael Waltz (Florida)
  • State Service Leadership Award: State Representative Morgan J. Rielly (Maine)
  • Outstanding Commissioner: Margarita Rodriguez-Duffy (Delaware)
  • Outstanding Commission Executive Director: Amber Martin-Jahn (Washington)
  • Outstanding Commission Staff
    • Dr. Sandy Pulles (Minnesota)
    • Ruhamah Bauman (Wisconsin)
  • Outstanding Service Program: COVID-19 Containment Response Corps (Colorado)
  • Outstanding Service Program Staff: Dr. Mary Ellen Isaacs (Texas)
  • Honor Roll: Thomas Branen (Maryland)
The 2020 recipients of the Innovation and Leadership Awards are as follows.
  • Friend of ASC
    • Senator Chris Coons (Delaware)
    • Senator Roger Wicker (Mississippi)
    • Congressman Dave Loebsack (Iowa)
  • State Service Leadership Award
    • State Senator Tony Vargas (Nebraska)
    • State Representative Matt Wilhelm (New Hampshire)
    • Mayor Michael Tubbs (California)
  • Outstanding Commissioner: Paul Calistro (Delaware)
  • Outstanding Commission Executive Director: Renee Bade (Idaho)
  • Outstanding Commission Staff
    • Jaclyn Kolar (Texas)
    • Sarah Sadowski (Montana)
  • Outstanding Service Program: United Way of King County AmeriCorps (Washington)
  • Outstanding Service Program Staff: Gail Klearman (Iowa)
  • Honor Roll: Bill Hulterstrom (Utah)
The 2019 recipients of the Innovation and Leadership Awards are as follows.
  • Friend of ASC
    • Congressman Tom Cole (Oklahoma)
    • Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (Connecticut)
  • State Service Leadership Award: Governor Larry Hogan (Maryland)
  • Outstanding Commissioner: Mary Grace Landrum (Texas)
  • Outstanding Commission Executive Director: LaDawn Stoddard (Utah)
  • Outstanding Commission Staff: Stacey Scherschligt (Minnesota)
  • Outstanding Service Program: Metropolitan Ministries (Florida)
  • Outstanding Service Program Staff: Bridget Talebi (Washington)
  • Honor Roll: Robert Shogren (Arizona)
The 2018 recipients of the Innovation and Leadership Awards are as follows.
  • Friend of ASC: Senator Roy Blunt (Missouri)
  • State Service Leadership Award: Governor John Hickenlooper (Colorado)
  • Outstanding Commissioner: Kate Kelly (Minnesota)
  • Outstanding Commission Executive Director: Scott McFarland (Illinois)
  • Outstanding Commission Staff
    • Caitlin Brooking (Mississippi)
    • Ia Moua (California)
  • Outstanding Service Program: YWCA of Central Alabama AmeriCorps (Alabama)
  • Honor Roll
    • Elizabeth Darling (Texas)
    • Debbie Schuffenhauer (Washington)
In 2017, in honor of ASC's 20th Anniversary, we presented 20 individuals with special ASC 20 Awards in lieu of the traditional Innovation and Leadership Awards.
  • Senator Thad Cochran (Mississippi)
  • Senator Tom Harkin (Iowa)
  • Senator Orrin Hatch (Utah)
  • Senator Harris Wofford (Pennsylvania)
  • Governor Haley Barbour (Mississippi)
  • Governor Terry Branstad (Iowa)
  • Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (California)
  • Diana Rodriguez Algra
  • William Basl
  • Tom Branen
  • Kyle Caldwell
  • Elizabeth Darling
  • Nicky Goren
  • Bill Hulterstrom
  • Deborah Jospin
  • Michael Kenefick
  • Rosie Mauk
  • Marsha Meeks Kelly
  • Shirley Sagawa
  • Wendy Spencer
The 2016 recipients of the Innovation and Leadership Awards are as follows.
  • Friend of ASC: Senator Thad Cochran (Mississippi)
  • State Service Leadership Award: Governor Jay Inslee (Washington)
  • Outstanding Commissioner
    • John Albright (Missouri)
    • Carolyn Bloodworth (Michigan)
  • Outstanding Commission Staff: Emily Steinberg (Texas)
  • Outstanding Service Program: AmeriCorps Urban Safety Corp (Michigan)
  • Honor Roll
    • William Basl (Washington)
    • Thomas Devine (Wisconsin)
The 2015 recipients of the Innovation and Leadership Awards are as follows.
  • Friend of ASC: Senator Barbara Mikulski (Maryland)
  • State Service Leadership Award: Governor Terry Branstad (Iowa)
  • Outstanding Commissioner: Autumn Karlinsky (Florida)
  • Outstanding Commission Executive Director: Thomas Devine (Wisconsin)
  • Outstanding Commission Staff: Beth McGuinness (Massachusetts)
  • Outstanding Service Program: Washington Service Corps (Washington)
The 2014 recipients of the Innovation and Leadership Awards are as follows.
  • State Service Leadership Award: Senator Orrin Hatch (Utah)
  • Outstanding Commissioner
    • Lawrence Neil Bailis (Massachusetts)
    • Nicole Trimble (Washington)
  • Outstanding Commission Executive Director: Shelly McAlpin (Wyoming)
  • Outstanding Commission Staff
    • Elisa Gleeson (Texas)
    • Jeanine Yard (Michigan)
  • Outstanding Service Program: Colorado HIPPYCorps (Colorado)
The 2013 recipients of the Innovation and Leadership Awards are as follows.
  • State Service Leadership Award: Mayor Vincent Gray (District of Columbia)
  • Outstanding Commissioner
    • Rob Collier (Michigan)
    • Tom Katus (South Dakota)
  • Outstanding Commission Executive Director: Audrey Suker (Minnesota)
  • Outstanding Commission Staff: Kristin Honz (Iowa)
  • Outstanding Service Program: Washington Conservation Corps (Washington)
Additional award recipients that predate the current Innovation and Leadership Awards format are as follows.
  • State Service Leadership Award: Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne (Louisiana)
  • Friend of ASC
    • Senator Harris Wofford
    • Senator Tom Harkin
    • AnnMaura Connolly
    • Michelle Nunn
    • Shirley Sagawa
    • Alan Khazei
    • Lt. Governor Diane Denish
    • Rosie Mauk
    • Eli Segal
    • Debra Hartmann
    • Robert Goodwin
 

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