Each year since 1983 the Minneapolis Rotary Club has bestowed the "Service Above Self " award on a Non-Rotarian in the community who has demonstrated throughout his or her life that it is truly better to give than to receive.  An individual that places life’s values and responsibilities to others above one’s inherent obligations to self.

Members of the Minneapolis Rotary Club submit nominations and the final choice is made by a committee of Minneapolis Rotarians after comparing all of the candidates using a rigerous set of criteria. The candidates cannot be members of the Minneapolis Rotary Club nor can they be running for or currently serving in any public office in the Metropolitan area.

The announcement is normally made near the end of the Rotary year in May or June.  The winner is presented with a $1,000 check for his/her favorite charity, made an Honorary Rotarian for life as well as a Paul Harris Fellow and is the Guest Speaker at our regular Friday meeting on the day of the announcement. 

Past winners are:

1983 - Wilko Schoenbohn 1984 - Harry Davis 1985 - Lucy Bell Hartwell 1986 - Harry C. Piper Jr. 1987 - Marvin Borman 1988 - Leonard F. Ramberg 1989 - Richard G. Gray Sr. 1990 - Gladys S. Brooks 1991 - Joseph K. Selvaggio 1992 - Elmer L. Andersen 1993 - Willard T. Gove 1994 - Mary Jo Copeland 1995 - John E. Pearson 1996 - Charlie Boone & Roger Erickson 1997 - David Moore 1998 - Dale R. Olseth 1999 - Marilyn Carlson Nelson 2000 - Winston R. Wallin 2001 - James P. Shannon 2002 - G. Rolf Svendsen 2003 - William & Penny George 2004 - William Foussard 2005 - Harry & Shirley Kaiser

 
If you would like to nominate someone for the award or serve on the selection committee, click here.