South Dakota Has Opened John Lewis Award Nominations
The Secretary of State's office is now accepting nominations to honor youth leaders across South Dakota.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Civic Engagement
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South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson has launched the nomination process for the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award. The state is currently seeking candidates who have demonstrated significant impact through civic engagement and community service.
Why it matters
This program aims to recognize young individuals who mirror the legacy of Congressman John Lewis through their commitment to service. The Secretary of State's Office hopes to broaden civic participation by highlighting impactful work across all state communities.
The Secretary of State's Office manages the nomination cycle, which is currently active as of 2026. The selection process remains open to the public to ensure broad representation across the state.
The players
Monae Johnson
Monae Johnson serves as the South Dakota Secretary of State and manages the office overseeing the nomination process.
John Lewis
John Lewis was a prominent American politician and civil rights leader who served as a U.S. Congressman.
The details
The award honors the life and work of the late Congressman John Lewis by acknowledging young residents for their service contributions. Nominations are being processed through the Secretary of State's Office in Pierre to ensure every community has the opportunity to participate.
Timeline
The Secretary of State is currently accepting award nominations throughout 2026.
Need to Know
The South Dakota initiative follows the pattern established by the national John Lewis Youth Leadership Award program to recognize grassroots civic contributions.
Residents can actively participate in the state's civic life by submitting nominations for youth leaders who have improved their local communities. This process provides a platform for citizens to highlight regional service initiatives to the state government.
The takeaway
Honoring youth leaders encourages the next generation to commit to sustained community improvement and public service. Nominating a local peer is a direct way for residents to ensure that impactful contributions are recognized at the state level.
Further reading
For additional context on how the state encourages local involvement, visit Civic Engagement.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Yankton Press & Dakotan.
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Do community service awards effectively increase civic participation among young people in your area?
