NCoC offers three awards that recognize the contributions extraordinary individuals make in service to our country. They are the Senator Bob Graham Award, the Joseph H. Kanter Citizen of the Year Award, and the HOOAH Award – commissioned by the Major George A. Smith Memorial Fund.
HOOAH Award– Major George A. Smith Memorial Fund
2024 Recipient: Governor Wes Moore
The National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) presented Maryland Governor Wes Moore with the 2024 HOOAH award at its 2024 Annual Conference, Renewing Civic Health. The conference was held at the Planet Word Museum in Washington, D.C on Tuesday, December 10th.
Following the attacks of September 11th, Governor Moore served in Afghanistan as a lieutenant with the 82nd Airborne Division, leading soldiers in combat and attaining the rank of Captain. Following his military service, Governor Moore became the CEO of Robin Hood Foundation, focusing on alleviating poverty and disaster relief in New York City, and has authored numerous acclaimed books, including The Other Wes Moore which is now being adapted into a feature film. Moore now serves as the 63rd Governor of Maryland.
2022 Recipient: Josh Fryday
Serving in the cabinet of Governor Gavin Newsom, Josh currently leads the service, volunteer, and civic engagement efforts throughout California. Josh served in the military as an Officer in the United States Navy (‘09-‘13) as a member of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG). He was stationed in the Office of Military Commissions, working on the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba detainee cases, and testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the closing of Guantanamo. He also served overseas in Yokosuka, Japan, where he augmented the Navy’s 7th Fleet’s Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief efforts during ‘Operation Tomodachi’ following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and Fukushima nuclear disaster.
2021 Recipient: Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL)
As an Air Force pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Congressman was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, and he served in the Air Force Special Operations. Today, he continues to serve in the Air National Guard while in Congress, with the current rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Recently, Congressman Kinzinger joined the January 6th Select Committee, one of 2 Republicans to do so. Adam was elected to the U.S. Congress in 2010 and currently represents Illinois’ 16th District.
At the 2021 Annual Conference on Citizenship for a special Veterans Day event, NCoC was joined by the Congressman to accept the award and deliver remarks.
Following the award presentation, Ken Harbaugh (2020 HOOAH Award winner) moderated a panel with Emily Cherniack of New Politics and Chris Marvin of Marvin Strategies.
Previous recipients of the HOOAH Award include the Mike Washington, the Honorable Tulsi Gabbard, Eric Hilleman and Derek Blumke.
The Senator Bob Graham Award (formerly Franklin Award)
2024 Recipient: Mayor Levine Cava
Previously known as the Franklin Award–in appreciation of Ben Franklin and NCoC’s shared belief that “to provide benefits for the common good is divine,” the award was renamed in honor of Senator Graham and presented to an outstanding individual who is working to strengthen citizenship in America.
Elected in 2020 as Miami-Dade County’s first-ever woman mayor, Levine Cava has over 40 years of advocacy for South Florida families. As Mayor, Levine Cava has focused on building a more resilient and prosperous Miami-Dade. Her initiatives include combating gun violence, building a future ready economy full of opportunity, tackling the housing crisis, and preserving the environment.
NCoC was particularly impressed with the Mayor’s Thrive305 initiative and her commitment to participatory governance. Launched as the largest civic engagement effort in Miami-Dade’s history, Thrive305 invites tens of thousands of residents to share their voices through surveys, town halls, and collaborative workshops. This unprecedented community-driven effort informed the Thrive305 Action Plan, which prioritized affordable housing, transportation, public safety, and economic mobility—all issues central to improving civic health and quality of life.
Previous recipients of the Franklin Award include General Ann Dunwoody, the Honorable Norman Mineta, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Antonin Scalia, Sandra Day O’Connor, and Stephen Breyer, and Senators Robert Byrd and Lamar Alexander.
Joseph H. Kanter Citizen of the Year Award
The Joseph H. Kanter Citizen of the Year Award recognizes the extraordinary commitments of a private citizen.
The 2021 Citizen of the Year was frontline healthcare works for their incredible efforts and leadership to combat Covid-19 in communities across America. Previous recipients include David Rubenstein, Jack Miller, Steve and Jean Case, and Rick Stengel.
Learn more about the Citizen of the Year Award and previous winners.