Call for Nominations: The 2025 Unsung Heroes Award

We all hear about the superstars—the colleagues who make scientific breakthroughs or uncover brilliant young artists or unravel historic mysteries—but what about those colleagues who do exceptional work at indispensable jobs that never make the news? This is your opportunity to nominate those Unsung Heroes who, day in and day out, help make the Smithsonian a great Institution.

Nominations close April 11

Being an Unsung Hero isn’t about an individual act, but rather an overall attitude and set of achievements that reflect the best aspects of what the Smithsonian and its employees strive to be.

Little things and big things count, as long as they reflect a consistent striving to make the Smithsonian a better place for fellow staff or the public at large.

Who may nominate an Unsung Hero?

All Smithsonian staff, including Smithsonian Enterprises staff, may nominate Unsung Heroes.

You should have personal knowledge of the person you nominate. You may not nominate yourself (but don’t worry—someone else is bound to notice how great you are!)

Who is eligible for nomination?

Any Smithsonian employee, including Smithsonian Enterprises staff, may be nominated.

What are the criteria for an Unsung Hero?

An Unsung Hero consistently:

• Goes the extra mile and willingly performs more than the assigned duties.
• Lends time and expertise to colleagues unselfishly and with courtesy.
• Is dependable, dedicated and reliable; represents the Smithsonian honorably and
• strives to support our mission.
• Makes outstanding contributions to the Smithsonian through initiative, creativity and ability.

How do I nominate an Unsung Hero? 

Submit your nomination online by clicking this link to the nomination form and tell us about your Unsung Hero. Nominations are due by midnight EDT on Friday, April 11, 2025.

Here are some partial examples from the nominations of previous Unsung Heroes:

“…_____’s optimism and energy act as a magnet for others… One day he might be washing windows, another day running a leaf blower, the third day he might be operating a distinctive piece of equipment in an oddly shaped part of the parking lot…_____ knows how to operate virtually every piece of Smithsonian maintenance equipment safely and carefully…”

“Because of ______’s hard work and dedication, all 6000+ active SI volunteers were migrated successfully into the new volunteer database. _____ coordinated all of the separate SI units and their volunteer coordination staff during this process. She still is our go-to for any questions as we are learning the new system.”

The Unsung Heroes program is part of the Smithsonian Community Committee. Visit the Smithsonian Community Committee SharePoint site for more information on the Community Committee and its programs.  For more information, or to request a hard copy of the nomination form, contact James Babcock at babcockj@si.edu.