VCU news

By Paula Otto
L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs will honor individuals and organizations in seven categories for distinctive contributions to the practice of government and the well-being of Virginia’s communities.

The awards will be presented during the 14th Excellence in Virginia Government Awards, which will be held virtually on Thursday, April 15, from noon to 1:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

Recipients also will be honored during a subsequent broadcast that will air Thursday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. on WTVR-TV 6. The awards ceremony is sponsored by Dominion Energy, Altria and Virginia Housing.

The recipients of the 14th Excellence in Virginia Government Awards originally were announced in January 2020, but the event was canceled because of the pandemic. The honorees are:

• Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, who has represented Virginia’s 3rd Congressional District since 1993, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.
• A.E. Dick Howard, the architect of Virginia’s modern-day constitution, will receive the Hill-Robinson Expansion of Freedom Award.
• John C. Purnell Jr., who led the FRIENDS Association for Children as executive director for 40 years, will receive the Grace E. Harris Leadership Award.
• Cristina Ramirez, a librarian, advocate and expert on diversity, equity and inclusion in Henrico County, will receive the Unsung Heroes Award.
• Health Brigade, formerly known as the Fan Free Clinic, will receive the Community Enhancement Award.
• The Virginia Housing Development Authority will receive the Public-Private Partnership Award.
• The Department of Juvenile Justice will receive the Innovation in Government Award.
  
  

For more details on the awards and the honorees, please visit here.