The Rotary Club of Florence, serving all of Boone County, is now accepting nominations for its 2026 Citizen of the Year Award, an annual recognition honoring Northern Kentucky residents whose selfless service has made a lasting impact on our community.
The Citizen of the Year Award celebrates those who exemplify Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self.”
These are the unsung heroes who dedicate themselves to helping others—not for recognition or applause, but because they genuinely care about making their community a better place. They are often the people working behind the scenes, quietly improving the lives of others while expecting nothing in return.
Nominations are now being accepted online at florencerotary.org and must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 7.
Who Can Be Nominated?
To be eligible for consideration, nominees must:
• Be a current resident of Northern Kentucky.
• Have earned the respect and admiration of friends, neighbors, and peers.
• Play an active and meaningful role in improving the community.
• Demonstrate Rotary’s ideal of Service Above Self through their personal, professional, or volunteer activities.
“Every community is shaped by people who choose to serve others, often without anyone knowing the difference they’ve made,” said Rotary Club of Florence President Matt Turner. “Those quiet acts of kindness, generosity, and leadership are what make Northern Kentucky such a special place to live.”
Established in 1995, the Citizen of the Year Award has recognized more than 34 outstanding individuals and couples whose commitment to serving others has strengthened Northern Kentucky. Past recipients have included educators, pastors, physicians, coaches, nonprofit leaders, first responders, missionaries, business professionals, postal workers, administrators, and dedicated neighbors. While each recipient has a unique story, they all share one thing in common—a commitment to making life better for others.
The Rotary Club encourages nominators to submit multiple letters of support to help demonstrate a nominee’s impact on the community. Individuals who have been nominated previously but were not selected remain eligible and are encouraged to be nominated again.
The 2026 Citizen of the Year will be recognized during a special Rotary Club of Florence meeting on Monday, October 5.
To submit a nomination or learn more about the award, visit florencerotary.org.
A slideshow featuring previous Citizen of the Year recipients and additional information about the Rotary Club of Florence is available at florencerotary.org.
Rotary Club of Florence