Nominations for Continued Excellence Award Due May 22

SPRINGFIELD — Time is running out to nominate an individual for the first annual Continued Excellence Award, presented by HCN’s sister publication, BusinessWest.

The new award, sponsored by Northwestern Mutual, is an offshoot of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty program, which recognizes young professionals for their career accomplishments and civic involvement. The Continued Excellence Award will be presented annually to one former 40 Under Forty honoree who, in the eyes of the judges, has most impressively continued and built upon the track record of accomplishment that earned them 40 Under Forty status.

The inaugural award will be presented at this year’s 40 Under Forty Gala on June 18 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. All 40 Under Forty winners from 2007 through 2014 are eligible. Nomination forms are available at businesswest.com/40-under-forty/40-under-forty-continued-excellence-award and due by 5 p.m. on May 22.

After that, a panel of three independent judges — Carol Campbell, president and CEO of Chicopee Industrial Contractors; Eric Gouvin, dean of the Western New England University School of Law; and Kirk Smith, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Springfield — will consider how each nominee has built upon his or her success in business or service to a nonprofit; built upon his or her record of service within the community; become even more of a leader in Western Mass.; contributed to efforts to make this region an attractive place to live, work, and do business; and inspired others through his or her work.

The judges will first narrow the field of nominees to five candidates, who will be informed that they are finalists for the coveted honor — an accomplishment in itself. They will then choose a winner, the identity of whom will not be known to anyone but the judges until the night of the event.