Our Iowa Character Awards highlight Iowa’s role models, and you can help make sure the deserving individuals/organizations in your life are recognized. Your nomination makes a big impact! By submitting our quick and easy nomination form, you’re helping deserving Iowans receive meaningful recognition. Nominations for the 2026 Iowa Character Awards will open December, 2025.
Congratulations to our 2025 recipients:
Bill Bradford, Cedar Falls
Timothy Hadley, Oelwein
Mike Knapp, Des Moines
Anna Pollpeter, Urbandale
Walter E. Lauridsen, Ankeny
Pam Pepper, Indianola
Benson Zheng, Spirit Lake
Brody Middle School, Des Moines
City of Spencer
Iowa Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (Iowa FCCLA)
Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union
North Iowa Youth Center, Mason City
2025 Honorable Mention Recipients
Kevin Cooper, Nevada
Lillian Frideres, Nevada
Calan Smidt, Altoona
Jeremy True, Mason City
Alissa Tschetter-Siedschlaw, Des Moines
Box of Balloons, Cedar Rapids
Central DeWitt Intermediate School, DeWitt
Keokuk XII, Keokuk
Besides telling us who you’re nominating, you’ll answer three prompts:
You’ll also be able to attach supporting materials, like letters of recommendation, newspaper articles, etc.
You don’t have to complete the form all at once. Create a username/password to save your nominations and return to it later.
Give examples. A successful nomination will include specific examples of the nominee showing good character.
Ask for help. You don’t have to complete the nomination alone. Ask the nominee’s friends, families, or co-workers for examples of the nominee’s good character. You can also attach letters of recommendation.
Individuals, organizations, and communities who have not received an Iowa Character Award in the last 5 years are eligible.
Previous nominees and Honorable Mention recipients are eligible.
Youth nominees should be between the ages of 10 -19 as of May 2, 2025.
Anyone can submit a nomination. You can nominate family, friends, co-workers, and community members. You can nominate your own school, organization, or company.
Being recognized for good character is a big deal! We’ll make sure nominees and recipients are honored in meaningful ways.
All nominees will receive a formal certificate of recognition, and we’ll celebrate our award recipients in three ways.
Presented to individuals who consistently demonstrate good character.
Presented to individuals who consistently demonstrate good character.
This award is presented to an educator or administrator who impacts students by using innovative character education practices.
The Jim Hallihan Pursuing Victory with Honor Award is presented to an athletic team or athletic organization that consistently shows good character.
This award is presented to a school or district that who impacts students by using innovative character education practices.
This award is presented to a student organization that consistently shows good character.
Presented to a company or organization that demonstrates good character through their work.
The nomination form for 2026 will be available December, 2025.
Iowa Character Awards have been presented since 2005.
Award Categories
Iowans make up the volunteer award selection committee.
These awards are annually chosen by The Ray Center’s National Advisory Council and team.
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© 2025 The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University.