SEQUIM — Nominations of dedicated volunteers are being sought for Sequim’s top civic award.

Created in 1968, the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year award was established to recognize individuals, who, through volunteer efforts, have made the area a better place to live.

Nominations opened on Jan. 5 and the deadline for applications is Wednesday, Jan. 31.

Guidelines can be found on the Chamber of Commerce website (sequimchamber.com) and listed under “events and programs.”

Results will be announced on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at a luncheon hosted by the chamber of commerce.

The application can be picked up in paper form from the Visitor Information Center, 1192 E. Washington St., or online at sequimchamber.com/coty.

While a Citizen of the Year award has been granted each year, on a less frequent basis a Humanitarian Award has been given.

Criteria for this recognition is different and can also be found on the website.

The Citizen of the Year committee is made up by former winners of the award. The program is chaired by the Chamber of Commerce immediate past president Lorie Fazio.

The original award went to former mayor Peter Black for his many selfless efforts in the community.

Subsequent recipients can be found at sequimchamber.com/coty. In February 2023, the award for the 2022 Citizen of the Year was given by the committee to David Blakeslee for his tireless dedication to community events and leadership with the Sequim Valley Lions.

For more information about the Citizen of the Year or other Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce program, email director@sequim chamber.com or call 360-683-6197.