Now in its seventh year, the Orleans County Heritage Heroes Awards recognize the dedication and hard work of citizens who strive to protect and preserve local history. They are now seeking nominations for the awards. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, February 28, 2020.
“Residents of Orleans County take great pride in their heritage,” said Jim Simon, associate dean of GCC’s Orleans County Campus Centers in Medina and Albion. “For our seventh consecutive year, we want to continue to recognize the time and investment of individuals who are tireless advocates for local history.”
Nominees for Heritage Heroes Awards can be any age but posthumous nominations will not be accepted. History professionals and GCC employees are also not eligible for the award, nor are those who serve on the awards selection committees. Nominees must be Orleans County residents.
Last year’s winners included Harriette Greaser, Lynne Menz, and Tom Taber. Todd Bensley received the special C.W. “Bill” Lattin Award for Excellence in Municipal History and Neil Johnson received the Bob Waters Lifetime Achievement Award. Because nominations are not retained for future consideration, residents who made previous nominations are encouraged to re-submit a nominee again for this coming year.
To nominate someone for the Heritage Heroes Awards, write up a brief statement outlining the person’s contributions, projects and community affiliations. Anyone sending in a nomination should provide their name (anonymous nomination packages will not be accepted), address, phone number, and email address. The more in-depth the detail provided in the nomination, the stronger the submission. Submit the nomination to: Attention: Heritage Heroes Committee, Genesee Community College / Medina Campus Center, 11470 Maple Ridge Road, Medina, NY 14103-9675.
Nominations may also be emailed to Jim Simon at jsimon@genesee.edu. Please write Heritage Heroes Nomination in the subject line.
A screening process involving community members and history professionals will review the nominations and recommend finalists. From those finalists, the executive committee will choose the Heritage Heroes.
“We are very pleased to recognize those whose efforts often go unnoticed,” said Associate Professor of History, Derek Maxfield. “They make many personal sacrifices in order to preserve history for future generations.”
The Heritage Heroes will be recognized during a ceremony at Genesee Community College in Albion in April 2020.
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