John F. Kennedy Service Awards

The Peace Corps presents the John F. Kennedy Service Awards once every five years to six Americans who have given outstanding service to Peace Corps, both at home and abroad.

Established in 2006, the awards recognize two current Peace Corps Volunteers, two returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and two Peace Corps staff members for contributions beyond their duties to the agency and the nation. Award recipients must demonstrate exceptional service and leadership and further the Peace Corps' mission and its three goals: to help the people of interested countries meet their needs for trained men and women; to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the people served; and to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

In commemoration of Peace Corps' 50th anniversary year, Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams (RPCV/Dominican Republic, 1967-1970) and Caroline Kennedy presented the 2011 John F. Kennedy Service Awards at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston on March 5, 2011. Peace Corps Volunteers Chris Fontanesi (Romania ) and Robert Ferguson (Mexico), Peace Corps staff members Frances Asturias (headquarters and Guatemala) and Mostafa Lamqaddam (Morocco), and returned Peace Corps Volunteers Kathryn Clark (Sierra Leone,1968-1969; Jamaica, 1984-1987) and Joseph Carroll Jaycox (Venezuela, 1962-1964) were honored.

John F. Kennedy Service Award Winners

Read about the 2011 winners and their accomplishments

John F. Kennedy Service Award Program

Event program (PDF)

John F. Kennedy Service Award Winner Bios

Award winner bios (PDF)

Last updated Jul 16 2012