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Do you know somebody who exemplifies the spirit of citizenship in Suffolk and has shown significant leadership through their time, talents and efforts in order to make Suffolk a better place to live?

If so, the Suffolk and North Suffolk Rotary Clubs hope you will take some time in the next month to nominate them for the 2022 First Citizen Award.

Nominations for the award are due Jan. 31, and nominees must be residents of Suffolk.

The Rotary Clubs have been doing this recognition for nearly 20 years now, after the Cosmopolitan Club did so for several decades prior to that. The list of prior winners reads like a Who’s Who of Suffolk Citizens of the past 65 years.

You can find out more about prior winners in the story that starts on the front page. Please look through it and think of Suffolk residents you know who are similarly invested in the community and actively working to make this city a better place. When you come up with those names, the Rotary Clubs would be most grateful if you would choose one or two and nominate them for the First Citizen Award. The chosen nominee will join an exclusive club that represents Suffolk’s best and brightest.

Nominees must be residents of Suffolk, and nominations must be postmarked by Jan. 31.

Nomination forms can be found on the Suffolk Rotary Club website at www.suffolkrotary.org. Attach letters of endorsement to the application. When complete, mail to Suffolk Rotary Club, c/o First Citizen, P.O. Box 1972, Suffolk, VA 23439-1972.

The reception honoring the recipient will be held April 12 at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. Profits from the First Citizen event will be donated to charitable organizations.