Written by: Jennifer Grace, Silver & Gold Area Team, National Council Communications Committee Member

The Volunteer Recognition Committee (VRC) exists for one essential reason: to make sure that the time, energy, and dedication AFS volunteers pour into their work do not go unnoticed. Led by committee Chair Steve Sweet, the VRC manages national and international award nominations and Flight Chaperone selections, designed to ensure volunteers are celebrated meaningfully.

Goals for the Year: More Reach, Better Process

In 2026, the VRC is focused on three priorities to strengthen recognition across the entire volunteer community:

• Refining Award Criteria: Reviewing application forms and scoring criteria each year to ensure they accurately reflect what AFS values in its volunteers.
• Expanding Outreach: Reaching more Area Teams so that volunteers across the country — not just those on larger or more connected teams — know that recognition opportunities are available and within reach.
• Growing the Committee: Recruiting new members to bring fresh perspectives and additional capacity to this detailed and meaningful work.

Achievements from Last Year: Continuous Improvement

Each year before award applications open, the VRC conducts a thorough review of the entire process — examining every application question, how volunteer involvement is weighted in scoring, and how nominees are communicated to throughout the process. Last year’s work included adjustments to point values and process improvements based on direct feedback from the volunteer community.

Abby, a newer committee member, shared that one of her positive experiences has been working with a committee that actively listens. She noted, “I’ve seen the committee take suggestions seriously and make meaningful changes to processes, including how volunteer involvement is evaluated, the point values assigned, and ways to improve the overall process—especially when it comes to engaging with nominated volunteers.”

The Recognition Process: Rigorous and Fair

For many volunteers, the inner workings of award selection are a mystery. In practice, the process is both more involved and more carefully designed than most realize. National and international award nominations open each June or July. Once nominations are received, every submission is anonymized — names, cities, Area Teams, and any identifying details are redacted before reaching judges. Judging is open to volunteers across the organization, giving a wider community a stake in the process.

After national recipients are selected, the VRC compiles nominations for AFS International awards — including the Galatti Award, the Young Volunteer Award, and the Peggy & Art Howe Family Award — with international recipients announced in early December. The committee then moves directly into Flight Chaperone selection, which follows the same rigorous process: applications open in December through mid-January, redaction, vetting, judging, and scoring. Trips are awarded by rank, and volunteers who score highly but don’t receive a trip are placed on an alternate list in case a designated chaperone withdraws.

“The thrill and reward for us is when we get to make the calls congratulating a volunteer that they were designated a Flight Chaperone trip.” — Debra

The VRC oversees the following awards on behalf of AFS-USA:

• Galatti Award
• Young Volunteer Award
• Peggy & Art Howe Family Award
• Flight Chaperone Award

The Hardest Part: Scale and Reach

Designing a fair recognition program for a volunteer base as large and diverse as AFS-USA’s presents real challenges. The most persistent is simply scale — there are far more deserving volunteers than there are awards to give. As Michelle puts it, “The most difficult part of selecting recipients is that there is a small number of awards and so, so many deserving volunteers whose efforts are worthy of recognition.”

Reaching all corners of the volunteer community is equally challenging. While nominations and chaperone applications have grown in recent years, ensuring that every Area Team feels informed and empowered to put their volunteers forward remains an ongoing conversation within the committee.

Join the Volunteer Recognition Committee

The VRC is actively seeking new members. Committee members come from different Area Teams and different parts of the country — diversity of perspective is one of the committee’s greatest assets. The work has a learning curve, but no prior experience is required. The committee looks for people who are:

• Detail-oriented and comfortable working through structured processes
• Enthusiastic about recognizing the contributions of others, including the small things that often go unnoticed
• Willing to learn and ask questions — support from fellow members is always available
• Available for consistent engagement throughout the award and chaperone selection seasons
• If you have been a recipient of an AFS award, what a great committee to share your time with!

For anyone who hesitates because the work feels out of reach, Michelle offers a straightforward perspective: “The concept of this work being above anyone’s level isn’t applicable here. Showing other people how much you appreciate them is an effort that anyone can make.”— Michelle

Interested in joining? Fill out the National Council Volunteer Interest Form to learn more about volunteer opportunities and how you can contribute to the AFS mission at a national level.