Academy, Local Gov 250 Honor 250 Champions in Philadelphia

May 12, Philadelphia, PA - The National Academy of Public Administration and partner groups from across the country came together Tuesday to honor their 250 Champions for a special ceremony in advance of the ICMA Democracy and the Public Trust Conference.

“There are many leaders working in government across the country who are deserving of recognition, and this year marks an especially important time for our country to honor them. These 250 Champions are truly special and make a difference in our everyday lives,” said James-Christian Blockwood, President & CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration. 

The 250 Champions include a diverse range of public servants. Each has earned recognition by going above and beyond, showing excellence in public service, and inspiring those around them. They have each been nominated by a peer or fellow in public administration.

“250 Champions is an outstanding opportunity to recognize the important role of local government in implementing democracy every day,” said Wally Bobkiewicz, city administrator of Issaquah, WA and selection committee member of Local Gov 250. “A key element of the initiative has been to recognize all the professions that make local government work, from librarians to police officers, engineers to recreation leaders. Local Gov 250 has brought together all these professions to celebrate the impacts of our collective work.”

The Local Gov 250 Coalition and the National Academy of Public Administration reviewed hundreds of submissions from all 50 states as well as Washington D.C. and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This honor highlights government workers across the country, from mayor’s offices to public works departments, parks and recreation, public health, libraries, and so much more. The 250 Champions were selected and notified of their awards in early March.

To be eligible for the award, honorees must be currently working as a government employee or recently retired within the last ten years and exemplify the highest standards of service to the public.

For the full list of champions, head to the Local Gov 250 site here.