RESTART NOV 15: 2022 Veteran Of Year Awards Nominations and Selections.
NOV 15 Updates at Nominations Tab.
“San Diego County Veteran of the Year” Program History.
It is well known that military veterans are excellent employees and citizens. They have outstanding work habits, are motivated, readily accept responsibility, and are team players. The “Veteran of the Year” program was established in 1989, by the United Veterans Council of San Diego County, to recognize the contributions of veterans to the San Diego community. In 2001, the program expanded to encourage many civic, government, corporate, and service organizations to honor their veterans by selecting their “Veteran of the Year”. From the ranks of Veteran of the Year candidates, only one is selected as the “San Diego County Veteran of the Year”. By honoring a Veteran, it shows that the Veterans contribute greatly to the morale of the work force, exceed expectations in their duties, volunteer in the community and are good citizens. This program of The Veteran Museum at Balboa Park recognizes our Veterans who continue to serve and contribute as our friends and neighbors.
The Program Has Four Categories Of Recognition To Individuals And Organizations:
- Veteran of the Year : “The San Diego County Veteran of the Year Award” is for outstanding individual service to other Veterans and for notable achievements participating in beneficial community and civic organizations and activities. The selected San Diego County Veteran of the Year will represent the veteran community at special events, parades, and military-related ceremonies.
- Non-Profit of the Year : “The San Diego County Allegiance Award” is to one non-profit or agency for outstanding service to individual Veterans and Veteran Programs, and support to Armed Forces Active Duty, Reserve, and Guard members, and contributions to the community.
- Corporation of the Year : “The San Diego County Meritorious Support of Veterans Award” Awarded to one corporation for outstanding assistance to Veterans, for support to Armed Forces members, and for notable community-wide beneficial support.
- Lifetime Support : “The Will Hays Lifetime Support of Veterans” named in honor of imminently distinguished Veteran Leader, the late Captain Will Hays, U.S. Navy Retired. Awarded for sustained outstanding contributions in service to other veterans and in benefit to San Diego County communities during a span of ten years or more.
All four awards are announced at a planned “Veteran of the Year Recognition Ceremony. An optimal date in 2022 is earnestly sought, and will be announced as soon it can be validated.
Being nominated is a distinction itself and being a winner in any of the categories will get name recognition on our website and in the media for one year.
Nominations for 2022-2023 will close December 10, 2022.
To apply for one or more of the awards, please use the drop down menu under the VOY Nomination Forms Tab.
All applications must be submitted online.
The 2021-2022 award winners are:
Joshua Prado as the Veteran of the Year
Mike Sloan as the Will Hays Lifetime Achievement Honoree
Vets Community Connections for the San Diego Veterans Allegiance Award
Previous Veteran of the Year Program Awardees
San Diego County Veterans of the Year |
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| 2017- Robert Muth
2016 – Nadirah Sahar |
2006 – Robert White 2005 – Bill Paxton 2004 – John Smith 2003 – Darcy Pavich 2002 – Robert Cardenas 2001 – Frank Burger 2000 – Walter Mikulich 1999 – Pete Houben 1998 – Dan Kreyling |
1997 – Bill Ayers 1996 – Moses Long 1995 – Chester Swisher 1994 – Robert White 1993 – Dominick Frankville 1992 – Robert Cox 1991 – Randy “Duke” Cunningham 1990 – Richard & Ruby Lewis 1989 – Ed Struiksma |
San Diego County For-Profit of the Year
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| 2017 – Motivated Military Movers
2016 – BRAVE Business Recruiting Allies for Veteran Employment |
San Diego County Non-Profit of the Year
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| 2017 – Honor Flight San Diego
2016 – US4Warriors |
Will Hays Lifetime Achievement Awards |
| 2017 – Gary Rossio
2016 – Richard “Sunny” Farrand |