2026 Rising Leader Awards

Shining a Light on Local Leaders

ABOUT:

One of the unique charms of Kosciusko County is how the community rallies around those making a difference. The KEDCO Rising Leader award recognizes professionals for everyday exceptional leadership in the workplace and within our community. These individuals could be influential entrepreneurs, outstanding employees, or active contributors to making Kosciusko County an even brighter place to live, work, and thrive.

Nominees must live OR work in Kosciusko County. Nominations must highlight at least one of three areas:

Nominee’s involvement and leadership in the workplace as an employee
Nominee’s leadership as a business owner
Nominee’s involvement in the local community

The deadline for nominations is Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 5 p.m. Awardees will be announced at the 2026 KEDCO Annual Celebration in the fall.

Nomination Form

Nominee Information

Please use the form below to submit your nomination for the Rising Leader Award. **Note: The nomination committee will evaluate candidates based on the details you provide—so be sure to include as much relevant information as possible to help your nominee stand out. The more context and examples you share, the stronger your nomination will be!** And there is no longer an age requirement for this award—nominations are welcome for individuals of any age.

Name(Required)

Nominee's First & Last Name

Email(Required)

Nominee's email address

Phone

Nominee's phone number

Employment(Required)

Nominee's place of employment

Leadership Characteristics(Required)

How does the nominee display leadership characteristics in the workplace (as an employee), as a business owner, and/or in the local community? For example, did they recently take on a new leadership role? Do they volunteer in the community? Please highlight at least one area.

Additional

Additional comments about nominee (optional)