MVLA Outstanding Volunteer Leaders

MVLA Seeks Nominations for Outstanding 4-H Volunteer Leaders

Recognizing volunteers for their hard work and dedication is very important to the 4-H Youth Development Program and MVLA. Every county has outstanding volunteers who should be considered for these special awards.

The Outstanding 4-H Volunteer Leader Nomination Form is available below and must be filled out for each applicant and submitted via e-mail to the State 4-H office to Rebecca Perkins at rap1@msstate.edu. As this is a very competitive award, letters of support and detailed information about the nominee’s 4-H Volunteer work are encouraged.

The deadline for submitting award applications this year is January 30, 2026. Awardees will be recognized at the Annual 4-H Mississippi Volunteer Leaders’ Association’s Awards Banquet, which will be held February 27, 2026 at the Mississippi State University Bost Building B Conference Center.

Volunteers in the following categories will be recognized:

• Harvey Gordon Rising Star Outstanding Volunteer Award – recognizes 4-H Volunteer Leaders with 1–3 years of service
• Outstanding Volunteer Leader Award – recognizes 4-H Volunteer Leaders with 4-10 years of service
• Ruby Beckley Lifetime Outstanding Volunteer Leader Award – recognizes  4-H Volunteer Leaders with more than 10 years of service

While they are always worthy, recipients can only receive the award once in each category. For questions, contact the MSU State 4-H office or Connie Darden, MVLA President at 601-403-2280 or connie.williams@msstate.edu.

Nominate a Volunteer from your county today!

Recipients of the 2025 MVLA Outstanding Volunteers are:

Harvey Gordon Rising Star Outstanding 4-H Volunteer Leader Award Recipients

• Leah Smith  – Southeast
• Jake Dickerson – Southeast
• Melissa Beck - Northeast
• Akeah Mayes – Northeast

Outstanding 4-H Volunteer Leader of the Year Award Recipients

• David Grady – Northeast
• Monica Grady – Northeast
• Misty Ballard – Northeast
• Allison Beene – Northeast

Ruby Beckley Lifetime Outstanding 4-H Volunteer Leader of the Year Award Recipients

• Shirley Breland – Southeast
• Cinderella Doss – Northeast
• Ella McPherson – Northwest
• Renetta McMillan- Northeast

Download

Nomination Form for the Mississippi Outstanding 4-H Volunteer Leaders Awards - Due January 30, 2026

• MVLA Outstanding Volunteer Award Application (PDF)
• MVLA Outstanding Volunteer Award Application (Word)