WAKE FOREST, NC – The Human Relations Council (HRC) is soliciting youth and adult nominations for the 17th Annual Good Neighbor of the Year Award. The award recognizes Wake Forest residents who work to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods without seeking recognition for their efforts.
Nominees are sought in two divisions: adult (ages 19 and older) and youth (ages 10-18). To qualify, a nominee must be a Wake Forest resident who has made a significant contribution to the community between September 1, 2025, and August 16, 2026. Employees of the Town of Wake Forest are not eligible.
The online nomination form is available at http://bit.ly/WFGoodNeighborAward. Completed nomination forms must be submitted by Sunday, Aug. 16.
Nominations forms must include the names of both the nominator and the nominee, along with a narrative of 400 words or less describing why the nominee is deserving of the Good Neighbor of the Year Award.
Mayor Ben Clapsaddle will present a commemorative plaque to one youth and one adult winner during this year’s Good Neighbor Day on Saturday, Sept. 19. The event is scheduled from 1-4 p.m. at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road.
Recent adult winners include Markie Hayes (2025), Samantha Luce (2024), Sandy Matthews (2023), Christy Lynn Van Ness (2022), Ronnie Jackson (2021), Kenille Baumgardner (2021), Tilda Caudle (2019), and Joy Shillingsburg (2018), while Bailey FormyDuval (2025), Jay Jay Wilson (2023), Camden Ames (2022), Jordan Kaplan (2021), Simone Smith (2019), and Trent Taylor (2017) are recent youth winners.