School districts within Genesee Valley BOCES are dedicated to fostering civic-mindedness within their communities by providing students with a pathway to earning the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness. The purpose of the Civi Awards is to honor students/districts in our region who exhibit exceptional civic-minded qualities, take meaningful actions, and effect positive change within their communities and beyond.
Our local Civic Awards celebrate students who demonstrate exceptional civic responsibility and engagement, named in honor of local figures, past and present, who embody the values these awards represent. Each award recognizes student contributions in areas such as serving the community, promoting civic engagement, and addressing critical societal issues. By drawing inspiration from the legacy of these distinguished individuals, the awards encourage students to take informed action that enhances democracy and strengthens the bonds of their communities.
Genesee Valley BOCES is proud to offer the following awards:
Olie Olson & Clara Barton Award: Serving Those Who Serve
Recognizes the student that informed and took action to assist and enhance the lives or work of those in the community who serve or have served others. Examples include veterans, first responders, law enforcement, fire departments, and more. This student’s work exemplified a dedication to identify those in their community whose purpose is to assist others, and to augment their work to benefit their community as a whole.
Belva Ann Lockwood Award: Civic Mindset & Engagement
Recognizes the student who developed an exemplary ‘civic mindset’ during their Seal work, and raised awareness in their community to enhance the ‘civic mindsets’ of others. The student identified a local, state, or national issue and immersed themselves in acquiring knowledge about the issue, but also effectively communicated this to the larger community. Their work also enhanced the civic engagement of others in their school or community.
Seth M. Gates Award: Local Government
Recognizes the student that took informed action in their local community or county to solve a political, societal, or economic issue that the community faced. Their work involved a partnership with either local or county government to solve their identified issue. The student’s work exemplified the pillars of civic readiness and served as a model for their fellow students and citizens.
Arthur C. Parker & William P. Letchworth Award: Environmental/Conservation/Agricultural
Recognizes the student who identified an issue pertaining to environmental or agricultural issues and took informed action to affect change in their community, state, or even a national issue. The student took action to help raise awareness or create a sustainable change that enhanced conservation or agricultural foundations in their sphere.
Lulu Westbrook Griffin & Frances Willard Award: Individual Rights/Equality/Social Justice
Recognizes the student who identified a significant political, economic, and/or societal issue affecting citizens in their community, state, or nation as a whole. The student took informed action to raise awareness about the issue, but also encouraged other citizens to take their own action in relation to the issue identified.
NEW Awards This Year!
Susan B. Anthony Award
Genesee Valley BOCES is also proud to offer the Susan B. Anthony Award, recognizing an educator in the Genesee Valley Region who demonstrates exceptional commitment to civic education and civic leadership. Before her nationally recognized activism, Susan B. Anthony spent fifteen years as a teacher in New York State. This award honors educators who, like Anthony, empower students through civic learning, foster informed engagement, and model the civic values essential to a healthy democracy.
Eligibility & Nomination
- Open to teachers in the Genesee Valley BOCES region
- Nominees may be recommended by fellow educators or administrators
- The award recognizes sustained excellence in civic education, leadership, and impact within school and community contexts
At-Large Civi Awards (Open to all member districts)
In addition to its regional Civic Awards, Genesee Valley BOCES, through the Civi Coalition, is proud to recognize exceptional civic work through At-Large Civi Awards open to students across New York State. These awards honor students whose Seal of Civic Readiness work demonstrates outstanding civic understanding, initiative, and impact that transcends geographic boundaries.
Eligibility Requirement
To be eligible for an At-Large Civi Award, the student’s school district must be an active member of the Civi Coalition at the time of nomination.
William H. Seward Award
The William H. Seward Award recognizes a student whose Seal of Civic Readiness work demonstrates exceptional civic leadership, moral courage, and a commitment to the public good. Named for the New York statesman who championed human rights, education, and democratic ideals, this award honors students whose civic actions reflect principled leadership and a broad vision for strengthening democracy.
Frederick Douglass Award
The Frederick Douglass Award recognizes a student whose Seal of Civic Readiness work exemplifies the power of informed civic voice, critical inquiry, and action in the pursuit of justice. Named in honor of one of New York’s most influential civic leaders, this award celebrates students who confront injustice, elevate public understanding, and inspire others to engage in civic life.
Nomination Process & Form
Educators and administrators within the Genesee Valley BOCES Region who offer the Seal of Civic Readiness, are able to submit nominations for students that display exemplary work within their Seal programs.
Who’s eligible?
Students grades 7-12 who are working toward, or have recently been awarded the Seal are eligible for nomination. Award winners will be selected by a committee of educators and community stakeholders.
This year once students are nominated they will receive a link to submit a brief video interview. This brief interview will take approximately five to ten minutes and ask students to respond to the following prompts:
- Briefly tell us about your civic project and why it is important to you:
- How did you become informed about your topic? What type of research did you engage in?
- How did you take action to create change?
- What impact did your work have? However, we know sometimes civic work is a long process, and immediate results are not evident. If no impact was evident, why do you think that is? Would you take any next steps?
Important Dates
Nominations Opens: 04/28/2026
Nominations Closes: 05/26/26
Committee Meeting to Review Nominations: 06/03/2026
Winner Announcement Date: 06/08/2026
Committee Members
- Nick D’Amuro: Coordinator of Instruction
- Steve Nole: Coordinator of Enrichment
- Julie Judge: Enrichment Specialist
- Stephanie Burns: Director of School Improvement
- James Bonacquisti: Village of LeRoy Board Trustee
- Angela Grouse: Director of Education to Employment Initiatives, L.C. Chamber of Commerce
- Karyn Winters: Director of Genesee County Business & Education Alliance
- Sheila Eigenbrod: Retired Pavilion HS Principal & Facilitator of Agricultural Cohorts
- Holly C. Watson: Livingston County Historian