About the Award

The Gwinnett Police Rising Star Award recognizes Gwinnett youth for their roles as active volunteers in the community. Recipients demonstrate an unyielding dedication to community service and improving the lives of others. Youth leadership may be exemplified in a variety of ways, through both formal and informal roles, including volunteer positions in local schools, extracurricular activities, workshops, community organizations, etc.

Criteria and Nomination Guidelines

The Rising Star Award will be presented annually to outstanding residents currently enrolled in middle or high school (public, private, and home-schooled) for volunteer service activities completed within the past year (January 2023 – December 2023).  The nomination window will remain open until March 29, 2024. The Gwinnett Police Community Affairs team will review nominations and recognize Rising Stars in May 2024. A Rising Star exhibits the following qualities:

• Leadership - A student who makes significant contributions to building a sense of unity and purpose in his or her community and is dedicated to the principle and values of servant leadership.
• Social Responsibility - A student who assists others in improving their communities through volunteer programs, social groups, outreach centers, sports programs, or after-school groups. The nominee should have contributed to at least one community program or initiative with measurable results of how they impacted participants of that community program or initiative.
• Change Agent - A student who demonstrates positive values and behaviors that influence others to emulate or aspire to emulate.  A student who influences or inspires others to effect positive changes through personal development or self-improvement.

Recognition

All award recipients will receive a Rising Star Award, a Chief of Police coin, a VIP Tour of the Gwinnett County Police Training facility, and other prizes.