The Rita Kipp Community Engagement Award
The Rita Kipp Community Engagement Award is presented annually to honor a person who is making a significant contribution in Licking County through non-partisan advocacy, community organizing, and/or civic engagement.
The Rita Kipp Community Engagement Award is presented each year at the Annual Meeting of the League of Women Voters of Licking County and includes membership in the League for one year.
Any resident of Licking County (16 years or older) or organization based in Licking County may submit a nomination.
Eligibility
- Any resident of Licking County (16 years or older) whose non-partisan, volunteer community work occurs within Licking County may be nominated.
Criteria
A person nominated for this award will have: consistently demonstrated leadership and commitment to one or more organizations within Licking County whose work advances the social, civic, economic, educational, and/or environmental betterment of the Licking County community.
The nominee’s work will be
- non-partisan (not affiliated with a political party)
- volunteer (e.g., not in the context of the nominee’s employment)
Nominations
Nominations are submitted online through the League of Women Voters of Licking County website. A committee comprised of three members of the LWVLC (including one Board member) will review nominations and select a nominee to present to the Board of Directors. The Board will vote on accepting the nominee and will announce the Rita Kipp Community Achievement Award recipient.
Deadline to Apply: March 28, 2025
Awardee will be announced at the LWVLC Annual Meeting.
PAST RITA KIPP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD WINNERS
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2024 RITA KIPP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD
LEAGUE HONORS KANDICE HAIRSTON FOR LEADERSHIP IN SUPPORTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN RECOVERY
The League of Women Voters of Licking County honored Kandice Hairston with the 2024 Rita Kipp Community Engagement Award for her leadership and tireless support of community members in Newark and beyond who are navigating addiction recovery. After completing the prison-based 15-month Tapestry Program for treatment and rehabilitation and having achieved 15 years of sobriety, Kandice has worked as a “messenger for recovery” with the Newark Center for Civic Engagement, Newark Think Tank on Poverty, the REAL Book Club and at St. Vincent de Paul. Her work and her message was recently highlighted in a Reporting Project story.
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2023 RITA KIPP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD
LEAGUE HONORS SUSAN KING WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD
The League of Women Voters of Licking County honored Susan Studer King with the 2023 Rita Kipp Community Engagement Award for her leadership in launching Pollinator Pathway of Licking County.