INSIDE TIPS FOR NOMINATIONS

There are many different types of Champions—don’t be fooled by the myths!

There are some myths about who the Peoples Health Champions program honors. We debunk these myths below.

Willie Bader, 2015 Champion

Myth #1:

All Peoples Health Champions are famous.

There have been several Peoples Health Champions who were either locally or nationally famous, but they were chosen because their lifetime of experience allowed them to accomplish a single, notable achievement after the age of 65—not because of their fame. The program focuses on accomplishment, not fame.

Issac “Ike” Edward, 2014 Champion

Myth #2:

A Peoples Health Champion is a lifetime achievement award.

Peoples Health Champions are honored for a single achievement made after the age of 65, not for multiple achievements that they have accomplished during their life.

Linda Prattini, 2016 Champion

Myth #3:

Only people who do selfless acts are honored as Peoples Health Champions.

Some Peoples Health Champions have been honored for an achievement that served the needs of others, but many other Champions have been honored for achievements that were wholly personal achievements (for example, a physical goal that the Champion set for himself or herself and achieved).

Jeanette Bell, 2015 Champion

Myth #4:

You must be a Peoples Health plan member to be a Peoples Health Champion.

All Louisiana residents over the age of 65 are eligible to be a Peoples Health Champion. Being a member of a Peoples Health plan is not a requirement for being chosen as a Peoples Health Champion.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN A CHAMPIONS NOMINATION

Use the Four-Part Recipe

When you nominate your Champion, there are some specific things you should describe in your nomination. This important information can give the Peoples Health Selection Committee a quick “snapshot” of your nominee accomplished. Read on for a list of the things the Selection Committee needs to know, and learn how to string them together to create a memorable nomination.

(A) The date or year when the achievement occurred
(B) The age at which your nominee made the achievement
(C) Nominee’s name
(D) The nominee’s single, notable achievement or act

Now, take these pieces of information to create one statement that describes why you are nominating this person to be a Peoples Health Champion: “In (A), at the age of (B), (C) did (D).”

Example: “In April of 2003, at the age of 67, Ken Moreau transformed his passion for fishing into a successful boat-building business.”

Betty Wells, 2018 Champion

And that’s it! By using these elements, you create a brief, simple statement about your nominee that will give the Selection Committee all of the important details that showcase what makes your nominee a Peoples Health Champion!

Use"Green Light" Words

When reviewing Champions nominations, the Selection Committee looks for key words that truly capture what it takes to be a Peoples Health Champion. These words can help signal to the Selection Committee that your nominee has done something extraordinary:

“First”—this is the first time your nominee has made the achievement

“Most/best/biggest/greatest”—this achievement highlights your nominee’s best or greatest results

Action words—words like “transformed,” “completed,” “established,” “created,” “coordinated” or “launched,” among others

HOW TO USE OUR TIPS TO WRITE AN OUTSTANDING NOMINATION

Read below for examples of how to use these tips to write a specific description of your nominee’s achievement.

On August 18, 2009, at the age of 87, runner Dick Findlay took first place for his group at the Baton Rouge Corporate Cup
This description clearly describes Mr. Findlay’s specific, notable achievement. It provides a timeframe for the achievement and uses one of the green light words, “first,” to describe why Mr. Findlay’s achievement was notable.
In February of 2006, at the age of 70, Pauline Morgan transformed Williams Playlot into a year-round, multi-functional facility for the Bunche Village community.
This sentence clearly describes Ms. Morgan’s specific, notable achievement. It provides a timeframe for the achievement and describes it using an action word, “transformed.”

Julia Hawkins, 2017 Champion

Read below for ways to turn vague nominations into specific nominations:

Vague Nomination

Throughout his life, my friend John Smith has always given of his time and energy to others. He volunteers at the local animal shelter and takes time on his weekends to work at a soup kitchen. His generosity has touched the lives of so many people.

My grandmother, Jane Smith, is not your typical grandmother. Not only does she take care of our family, but she is very active. She is a great cook, and she also enjoys going to the gym five days each week to exercise. She does it all with a smile!

Specific Nomination

In 2009, at the age of 76, John Smith created a program at the local animal shelter that helped increase the rate of animal adoptions by community members.

In 2009, at the age of 67, Jane Smith opened her first business, a bakery that featured generations of her family’s recipes that she gathered through her years as an amateur chef, cooking for her family.