Empowerment Awards

In celebration of the newly formed College of Public Service, Kaplan University has established the Kaplan University Empowerment Awards for Public Service Teams. The College of Public Service encompasses disciplines that share the mission of serving the needs of the public and our communities. The Awards will recognize and honor the work of teams nationwide that share this mission and are involved in commissioning or delivering public services, whether they are in the public, private, or volunteer sectors. 

Kaplan University will honor one exemplary team in six public service categories that demonstrates the following qualities:

• Energy and passion for making a difference in the lives of others
• Enthusiasm for public service and a commitment to go above and beyond to exceed expectations
• Strong team spirit and collaboration between all members of the team

Reflecting the College of Public Service’s academic offerings, nominated teams should be assigned within one of the following six award categories: human services, public administration, criminal justice administration, homeland security, public education, and fire and emergency management. 

We are asking you to help us identify teams that meet these criteria through your nominations. You can nominate a team of two or more by:

• Submitting a one-page summary (500 words maximum) of how the team demonstrates empowerment in one of the public service categories and fulfills the qualities above.
• Download the nomination form and follow the instructions to nominate a team.
• Nominations must be submitted between September 17 - October 25, 2012. The completed nomination form and summary must be submitted as attachments via email to empowermentawards@kaplan.edu.

Teams may comprise, for example, firehouse or emergency response teams, a volunteer team, or any type of team that has exhibited the qualities mentioned above. 

An advisory board consisting of administrators and faculty from Kaplan University’s College of Public Service will select the winning teams and announce the award recipients. Each winning team will be able to designate a charity of their choice that will receive a $1,000 donation from the College of Public Service, and a maximum of 10 team members will receive a complimentary course from the College of Public Service.

Our goal is to celebrate those who have chosen to contribute to and enhance the quality of life in our communities through their commitment and team spirit to public service. Nominate your favorite team and help them receive the recognition they deserve.