AWARDS COMPETITION
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AWARD (DEI)
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award recognizes individuals or groups who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and have made significant contributions to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within their agency and community.
REGIONAL COMMISSIONER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Each year, NAHRO seeks to honor a commissioner who has shown exceptional leadership. We are placed to announce that this year, MARC NAHRO is soliciting nominees for the Regional Commissioner of the Year Award. The regional winner will be submitted for the national competition. This is your opportunity to nominate a peer and encourage a peer to apply for this recognition, or to apply yourself based on your individual accomplishments. We hope you will consider participating in the Regional Commissioners of the Year Award program.
NATIONAL NAHRO AWARDS
NAHRO recognizes both individuals and agencies who have bettered the affordable housing and community development industry.
Each year MARC NAHRO honors the work and dedication of their members! MARC NAHRO recognizes the achievements, innovation and outstanding efforts of its member agencies and non-profit organizations through our Awards and Scholarship programs; to provide additional opportunities to inform the public of the best in housing and community development; and to create a place to call home!
PROGRAMS
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
NAHRO MERIT COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
DEADLINE: MAY 23, 2025
MARC NAHRO offers a scholarship incentive program for graduating high school and continuing college students who reside in public housing or Section 8 housing through a MARC-NAHRO member agency in “good standing”. MARC will award two scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Our l winner will then be submitted to National NAHRO to compete for the National scholarship.
Scholarship Applicants fill out and gather all required documents for the application.
Listed below are the documents required for a complete application. Please review this material carefully. If you have any questions, please contact the Service Office at marc@nahro.org or call 940 521-9982.
This includes:
1. To be considered, all sections of the application must be completed. If a section is not applicable, write N/A (not applicable) in the section; do not leave any sections blank. Any application that has blank sections, or that is missing appropriate submittals or signatures will be disqualified.
2. A letter of character recommendation: Please attach a letter of recommendation from a non-relative. Letters of recommendation will be accepted from a representative from the local housing authority or community organization, an employer, or a school professional such as a teacher, principal, or guidance counselor. Recommendations from family members will NOT be considered. All recommendations should include the writer’s name; relationship to the applicant; and the length of time the writer has known the applicant.
3. A transcript from high school and/or the academic institution the applicant is currently attending. A digital copy or scanned in hard copy are both acceptable.
4. Attach summary of activities (i.e., resume) outlining past and current employment, internships, honors, awards, sports, clubs, and/or other recent school or community engagement.
5. An essay (750-1,000 words) written by the applicant. Essay prompt: Please tell us about yourself and how this scholarship will help you achieve his/her goal of attending and graduating from college.
6. A clear, high-resolution headshot photo of the applicant.
NAHRO Member Agencies:
Eligible NAHRO member agencies must submit all of their applications to a regional scholarship representative, who will then conduct a regional judging. One candidate per region will be submitted to National NAHRO Merit College Scholarship for additional award consideration.
The final regional applications will be emailed to NAHRO by the current years due date. (July 1, 2025) The MARC Service Office and the winners will be notified once selected each year. The NAHRO Scholarship Committee awards scholarships directly to the accredited institution of higher education once proof of registration at the college or university is received.
DEADLINE: MAY 23, 2025
Established in 2019, the Mary E. Paumen Leadership Scholarship will fund NAHRO professional and leadership development opportunities for commissioners, employees, and resident council leaders in the region. Scholarship recipients will be afforded an opportunity to participate in a broad range of training, seminars, certifications, leadership development experiences, and research internships, either domestically or internationally. To be eligible for the Mary E. Paumen Leadership Scholarship, applicants must be either a commissioner, an employee, or a resident council leader of a MARC NAHRO agency member.
Listed below are the documents required for a complete application. Please review this material carefully. If you have any questions, please contact the Service Office at marc@nahro.org or call 940 521-9982.
This includes:
1. Complete the application form.
2. Describe your current position and provide two examples of how the professional or leadership opportunity will contribute to serving your organization, community and/or NAHRO and its global or domestic partners (UN, HUD, etc.).
3. Provide a summary of the value expected to be gained through the professional development/research/training/conference participation opportunity.
4. Submit a letter of recommendation from your immediate supervisor in support of your application, or if you are a community leader, a letter of recommendation from a community member.
POSTER CONTEST
HOUSING AMERICA CAMPAIGN
“What Home Means to Me” Poster Contest"
NAHRO holds an annual national poster contest for youth who live in affordable housing owned or administered by NAHRO member agencies. Each piece of art shares the children’s thoughts on the theme of “What Home Means to Me.” Hundreds of beautiful posters from children across the nation are entered in local, state and regional competitions. A panel of judges selects 12 winners and one grand prize winner, who is awarded a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet his or her elected representatives. The winning posters are collected in the Housing America calendar, a year-long reminder of importance of safe, decent and affordable housing to children and families nationwide.
2025 - 2026 Poster Application
Contest Dates: MAY 5, 2025
Poster Specifications
Posters must have a LANDSCAPE (horizontal) orientation.
Size – Posters must be at least 8.5 x 11 paper size (letter size). Larger posters will be accepted, up to 22 inches by 28 inches.
Media - Contestant may use any art media (marker, crayon, paint, collage, textiles, etc.), but please consider that posters will need to be packaged, mailed and reproduced.
All entries must be mailed flat.
All contestants must sign a release making their entry the property of NAHRO and permitting duplication/publication thereof. The release should be secured to the back of the entry.
All regional finalists and national winners must sign a photo release waiver giving NAHRO permission to use their picture for online and print publication.
All contestants are asked to provide a short narrative on the inspiration, vision, and importance of their poster design. The narrative should be secured on the back of the entry.
Contestant’s name, grade level, and housing authority must be written on the back of each poster entry in addition to being listed on the release form also attached to the entry.
NAHRO is only responsible for returning the original poster to the national grand prize winner. NAHRO is not responsible for returning posters except for the grand prize-winning poster.
National winners will be selected based on how well the artwork uses the “What Home Means to Me” theme.
Eligibility and Selection Categories:
Contest participation is open to all children in grades K-12 residing in affordable housing assisted directly, supported under community development, or participants in affordable housing programs administered by a NAHRO member authority (i.e., public or Section 8-assisted housing CDBG, HOME, LIHTC). Entries must be created by only one person. Entries created by two or more people will not be accepted.
Age Categories:
Elementary: K to 5th grade;
Middle: 6th to 8th grade;
High: 9th to 12th grade
Contest Overview:
Local/state NAHRO chapters may submit entries to their regional council. The regional councils hold separate contests and send their top three winners (one from each age category) to National NAHRO. National NAHRO holds a contest to pick the 13 national winners. National NAHRO will not accept submissions from individual housing authorities. Any submissions sent directly to national NAHRO will be disqualified.
Mail Entries to:
MARC NAHRO Service Office
12246 FM 1769
Graham, TX 76450
For more information contact 940-521-9982 or marc@nahro.org
National NAHRO will not accept submissions from individual housing authorities. Any submissions sent directly to national NAHRO will be disqualified.