Civic Light Award

Designed to highlight the importance of youth engagement in civic life, the Civic Light Award celebrates students who contribute their time, talent, and leadership to improving the well-being of others across Missouri’s urban and rural communities. This initiative not only honors individual achievement but also fosters a culture where youth engagement is central to civic life.

Overview & Instructions

The Civic Light Award is open to students ages 13 to 24 who are United States citizens or lawful permanent residents. To qualify, applicants must complete unpaid acts of service benefiting others within a twelve-month period.

To ensure the integrity of the award, strict guidelines are in place regarding eligible activities. Acceptable service may be performed with a single organization or across various events. However, the program explicitly excludes court-ordered community service, proselytizing or religious teaching, political lobbying, and serving only immediate family members. Additionally, hours earned through national service programs that provide a stipend, such as AmeriCorps, do not count toward this specific honor.

Award Levels: Recognition is divided into Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers based on the volunteers’ ages and hours served:

Ages 13–17:
Bronze: 10–24 hours
Silver: 25–99 hours
Gold: 100+ hours
Ages 18–24:
Bronze: 25–99 hours
Silver: 100–249 hours
Gold: 250+ hours

Apply Here!

Pre-Application

Lieutenant Governor David Wasinger, in partnership with ServMO, is proud to announce the creation of the Lieutenant Governor’s Civic Light Award. This prestigious honors program has been established to recognize Missouri students who demonstrate exceptional commitment to community service and civic engagement, measured by the number of hours served.

“The Civic Light Award is more than just a certificate; it is a recognition of the character and dedication of our state’s future leaders,” said Lieutenant Governor Wasinger. “We want to honor those who inspire others to shine through service and reinforce the values that make Missouri strong”.

“Young people are doing amazing things across Missouri,” said Brittany Crabtree, Executive Director of ServMO. “This award will celebrate them and hopefully inspire others to get more involved in their communities.”