By: centraljersey.com
BRIDGEWATER – The Somerset County Business Partnership is seeking qualified nominees for the 61st annual Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award.
The award is given to an individual for exemplary service, including volunteer initiatives, demonstrating creativity, vision, leadership, citizenship and success in providing service to programs and activities that positively impact the welfare of the Somerset County community.
The award will be presented at a luncheon reception Friday, May 6, beginning at noon at the Martinsville Inn.
Among the criteria for the award is service impacting the welfare of the community, involving activities outside normal employment responsibilities. These activities should have been performed in the past year but may be cumulative from prior years.
Nominees do not have to be Somerset County Business Partnership members or investors, and previous recipients are eligible for activities other that those for which the prior award was given.
Recipients should be residents of Somerset County. Nominees shall not be precluded from consideration based on their political affiliation, activity, candidacy or incumbency, providing candidates are not selected or awarded during an election cycle in which they are involved.
Nominations maybe submitted by individuals or organizations and should include a complete description of services rendered. Three letters of support should accompany the nomination.
"Recognition by you peers is among that highest honors that I can imagine receiving," said Jim Ventantonio, a recipient of the Citizen of the Year award. "The list of honorees is extraordinary, and I have humbled to be included with those individuals who have contributed to making Somerset County a wonderful place to live and to work."
Recent Outstanding Citizen recipients are Richard E. Williams, Angelo Corradino, the late Sen. Walt Kavanaugh, Steve Kalafer, Rich Reitman, Bernie Navatto, John Graf Jr., Robert Corcoran, Christine Rose, Dan Puntillo, Donald Bowers, Evelyn Field, Frank and Audrey Dittman, Adele and Leonard Blumberg, David Prugh, Arlyn Rus, Richard Shive and Dave D’Alonzo.
Nomination forms are available at www.scbp.org/member/awards.html or by calling the Business Partnership at 908-218-4300.

