"Michigan is rich with a culture of volunteerism and service that makes our state a great place to live, work, and play," said Governor Snyder. "As we celebrate the 40 finalists who will be recognized at the 2012 Governor's Service Awards, we also salute the impact and service of all of Michigan's amazing volunteers and thank them for their contribution to our state."

The finalists will be honored at an awards ceremony entitled, "An Evening with the Stars" on Monday, July 23, at the Gem Theatre in Detroit. The 2012 Governor's Service Awards will be a theatre-style event highlighting award presentations and featuring performances by Michigan musical artists and performers, all paying tribute to the honorees.

In addition to recognizing the Governor's Service Award recipients in eight categories, the event will also feature the presentation of the Community Foundation Award for Philanthropy.

The Governor's Service Awards are an annual statewide recognition event acknowledging the contributions made by Michigan volunteers. This celebration is made possible only through the generous contributions of its sponsors. To date those sponsors include: Ms. Diana Algra, Comer Holdings, Consumers Energy, Council of Michigan Foundations, Ford Motor Company, Lear, MASCO Corporation Foundation, Meijer, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

It is part of the Michigan Department of Human Services.The event is coordinated by the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), the state's lead agency on volunteerism. The MCSC strives to engage all Michigan citizens in volunteerism to address critical community challenges.

For more information on this annual opportunity, visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc .

The 2012 award finalists are:

Governor George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award

Individuals nominated in this category have made service a way of life for many, many years. The finalists are: This award, the most prestigious of the Governor's Service Awards, honors an individual who has taken his or her volunteer service to the highest level - year after year. It honors an individual, usually a senior citizen, who has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to community involvement and volunteer service.

 Dr. Philip Hessburg of Grosse Pointe Park ·        
 Johann Ingold of Sault Ste. Marie ·        
 Art Nichols of Kalamazoo ·        
 The Honorable Edward Sosnick of Bloomfield Hills ·        
 Erica Wright of Detroit ·        

Corporate Community Leader Award

Corporations and businesses that excel in community involvement are honored with this award. This kind of commitment is made by all employees, both hourly and salaried, and can take many forms including, but not limited to, corporate volunteer programs, monetary contributions, in-kind gifts, and employee-driven volunteer service. The finalists are:

Unique Options of Warren   ·        
Hillsdale Community Health Center of Hillsdale   ·        
Health Alliance Plan of Detroit   ·        
Deloitte, LLC of Detroit   ·        
Amway of Ada   ·        

Mentor of the Year

Mentors change lives. They give of themselves personally to a child month after month, year after year. This award honors an individual who has made a significant difference in a child's life through mentoring. For the purpose of this award, mentoring is defined as a structured and trusting relationship that brings a young person together with a caring individual who offers guidance, support, and encouragement. As a result, the mentee experiences improvements in grades, behaviors, social interactions, etc. The finalists are:

 Carla Campbell-Jackson of Kalamazoo ·        
 Greg Edmunds of Holland ·        
 Devi Kruis of Holland ·        
 LeeAnn Ludwig of Mt. Pleasant ·        
 Jay Reynolds of Birmingham ·        

Outstanding National Service Program Award

National service programs commit themselves to making a difference in the communities they serve. These include programs such as AmeriCorps*State, AmeriCorps*VISTA, AmeriCorps*National, Senior Companions, Foster Grandparents, and RSVP. This award honors an extraordinary program or organization that provides a high-quality national service program that yields a significant impact on their Michigan community. The finalists are:

Cherry Street Health Services AmeriCorps Program of Grand Rapids   ·         Schools of Hope AmeriCorps Program of Grand Rapids   ·        
RSVP - Your Invitation to Volunteer of Senior Services, Inc. of Kalamazoo   ·        
Michigan's Habitat AmeriCorps Program of Lansing   ·        
Goodwill of Greater Grand Rapids AmeriCorps Program of Grand Rapids   ·        

Outstanding Volunteer Program Award

The extraordinary work volunteers accomplish in communities is often driven by an organization or club. This award acknowledges the importance this support can make in community life. The nominees in this category strive to make communities better places to live through a variety of activities or by focusing on one issue of primary importance in their community. Schools, faith-based organizations, national service programs, nonprofit organizations, and service clubs are potential nominees. The finalists are:

The Center for Student Success of Grand Blanc   ·        
Family Literacy Center of Lapeer   ·        
Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries of Detroit   ·         Volunteers in Prevention, Probation, and Prisons, Inc. of Detroit   ·        
Oakland University of Rochester   ·        

Senior Volunteer of the Year

Seniors have a wealth of experience to share with their community. That is why an older adult who is taking action to make his or her community a better place is honored with this award. Nominees in this category are ages 65 or older. They may be involved with many activities or given significant time to one particular cause. The finalists are:

 JoAnn Lemmen of Holland ·        
John Hilliard of Kalamazoo   ·        
Sadie Hawkins of Grand Rapids   ·        
Norman Ginebaugh of Grand Rapids   ·        
Larry Alman of Greenville   ·        

Volunteer of the Year

The finalists are:  Individuals nominated for this award could be adults, national service members, educators, and more. When it comes to solving community problems, individuals really make things happen. These everyday citizens are very special people who go the extra mile for their community. This award is reserved for an individual who strives to improve the lives of neighbors, friends, community, or congregation.

Angie Phillips of Jenison   ·        
Russel Kittleson of Canton   ·        
Rebecca Gale-Gonzalez of Flint   ·        
Frances Arquette of Irons   ·        
Anthony Anderson of Buckley   ·        

Youth Volunteer of the Year

Volunteer service that begins at an early age is often carried forward throughout life. That is why a young person who is taking action to make his or her community a better place is honored with this award. Nominees in this category are ages 21 and younger. They may be involved with many activities or give significant time to one particular cause. The finalists are:

Shayna Wierenga of Grand Haven ·           
Taylor Weckstein of Traverse City   ·        
Connie Shi of Okemos   ·        
Hannah Montgomery of Edwardsburg   ·        
Deonte Lucas of Detroit   ·        

For more information on the 2012 Governor's Service Awards, visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc .

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