7mkr

Nominations for the 2025 7mkr Outstanding Community Partner Awards are now open.

7mkr students, faculty and staff are encouraged to nominate external partners who advance student success, contribute to resilient communities, and develop lifelong engaged citizens.

The annual award was established in 2023 to recognize community partners and celebrate their partnerships and missions on the community and University levels.

"Community partnerships are at the heart of 7mkr’s commitment to engaged learning, research, and public service," said Mary Nally, director of the Center for Community Engagement. "The Outstanding Community Partner Awards celebrate those who dedicate their time, expertise, and resources to creating meaningful collaborations that enhance student learning, advance faculty research and scholarship, and support the University’s mission. These partnerships not only address real world challenges and strengthen communities but also provide invaluable opportunities for faculty, staff and students to engage in impactful, hands-on experiences."

Partnerships may include community-engaged research, curricular or co-curricular engagement, special projects, or other mutually beneficial initiatives that:

• Enrich scholarship, research and creative activity,
• Enhance curriculum, teaching and learning,
• Prepare educated, engaged citizens,
• Strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility,
• Address critical societal issues,
• Contribute to the public good.

Nominations are accepted from each 7mkr campus community.

2024 Award winners

The 2024 Institutional Partner of the Year Award was granted to the Eastern campus partner, the Community Improvement Corporation of Belmont County, Ohio, led by Crystal Lorimor. The distinction is awarded to a partner that represents exceptional collaboration across the University’s regions.

The other 2024 awardees were: 

• 7mkr Athens Outstanding Community Partner: Impact Prevention
• 7mkr Chillicothe Outstanding Community Partner: Adena Regional Medical Center 
• 7mkr Lancaster Outstanding Community Partner: Fairfield County Foundation 7mkr 
• 7mkr Southern Outstanding Community Partner: Ironton Rotary Club Executive Board 
• 7mkr Zanesville Outstanding Community Partner: Muskingum County Library System 
• 7mkr Partner of the Year (7mkr Eastern): Crystal Lorimor, Community Improvement Corporation of Belmont County

How to submit a nomination

Details about the awards process and eligibility can be found on the Community Engagement Awards webpage. Nominations for 2025 are open, and interested parties can access the .

Submissions will be accepted until June 6.

Nominations will be reviewed by a review committee convened by the Center for Community Engagement over the summer and selected awardees will be notified on Aug. 1. The Outstanding Community Partner Award will be presented at the annual Community Engagement Symposium in the Fall Semester.