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
The NAHRO Merit College Scholarship awards $3,000 each to eight scholars, one from each NAHRO region, who are pursuing their first post-secondary degree. Each NAHRO region submits an applicant of their choice from their own scholarship program. If no regional scholarship program is in place, the region will select one eligible applicant to complete the NAHRO Merit College Scholarship application. The regions’ scholarship applications then are judged by the NAHRO Scholarship Committee, which is comprised of Housing America Advisory Committee members. National honorees are selected from region-level winning entries. NAHRO does not accept submissions from individuals, member agencies or state chapters.
MARY E. PAUMEN LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP
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.
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:
Entries must be received by MARCH 7, 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.