Awards overview
The categories include:
Emerging Professional Leader Award Nomination
(Early or mid-level career):
The Emerging Professional is a Legacy Project member early in their career with a municipality or public sector employer who has made exemplary contributions to the common good and the profession through public service over the last year through their local municipal work or by making substantial changes throughout the organization.
This award recognizes professional legacy project members working for a public sector employer in any area of public service. The selection committee considers the nature and extent of the public service activity, the benefit to the profession, the amount of time and effort involved, and its lasting impact on the community.
Outstanding Member Award
The Outstanding Member is any member who has demonstrated a superior dedication to local government and public service, as well as the continued support of the Legacy’s mission, over the last year. Outstanding Members can be from any level of public service. The selection committee considers the impact of the member’s actions on the profession, the member’s demonstrated leadership in and support of the organization, as well as the member’s commitment to public service.
Sponsorship Award
The Sponsorship Award recognizes those financial supporters who have consistently championed the Legacy Project. The selection committee considers a variety of factors in determining the Sponsorship Award including the amount of time and other commitments donated by the Sponsor, the impact of the Sponsor on the Legacy Project’s mission, and overall contributions to supporting female leadership in local government.
Please nominate your fellow colleagues for these awards, which will be presented at the Annual Conference.
The 2025 nomination process is now open. The deadline for submission is April 16, 2025.
Awards are presented at the annual conference in May.
2024 Award Winners
Congratulations to Peggy Halik, Woodridge Assistant Village Administrator – the recipient of our Outstanding Member Award. (Pictured in the center).
The nominator said that Peggy displays the kind of leadership that is so often overlooked, but which Legacy works to highlight. As ILCMA’s president, she diversified membership of ILCMA membership and worked to advance diversity, equity and inclusion into all of ILCMA activities. She has been a role model for outstanding and ethical governance for over 30 years has led the participation, voice, and enrichment of women and the underrepresented in our profession.
The Outstanding Member award recognizes members who have demonstrated a superior dedication to local government and public service, as well as the continued support of the Legacy’s mission, over the last year.
Congratulations to Molly Gillespie, Director of Communications and Engagement for the Village of Buffalo Grove for being named Legacy Project’s Emerging Professional Leader. (Pictured far left).
This award recognizes the exemplary contributions to the common good and the profession through public service over the last year through their local municipal work or by making substantial changes throughout the organization.
Molly was chosen for her work overseeing the village's new branding initiative and transforming communications efforts, leveraging creative people-focused storytelling to capture hearts and minds of audiences.
Molly is a newer member to Legacy Project and a member of the Communications Committee.
2023 Award Winners
