The John A. Wagner Community Service Award
Each year the City of Walhalla recognizes an individual or group whose actions have made a meaningful and lasting difference in the life of this community. The John A. Wagner Award is the highest honor the City of Walhalla bestows on a community member — named for the man who founded this city in 1849.
Nomination Period
March 1 – May 15, 2026. Winners are announced at the annual State of Walhalla event after the window closes.
Prize
$1,000 cash award and a recognition plaque. Winners’ names are permanently displayed on the plaque in City Hall.
Eligibility
Open to individuals and groups. No residency requirement. Prior winners are ineligible for five years following their award.
About John A. Wagner
John A. Wagner was the founder of Walhalla, South Carolina. In 1849, Wagner and a group of German settlers from the German Colonization Society of Charleston established the town they named Walhalla — drawn from Norse mythology — in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Wagner’s vision for a thriving, close-knit community in the mountains of Oconee County became the foundation of the city that Walhalla residents call home today.
The John A. Wagner Award carries his name forward by recognizing the residents and organizations who continue the spirit of community investment and civic care that Wagner himself embodied.
Who Can Be Nominated?
The award is open to any individual or group whose actions during the previous calendar year (2025) have directly contributed to the civic advancement of Walhalla and its citizens.
- Individuals and groups are equally eligible
- Nominees do not need to reside inside Walhalla city limits
- Actions must have taken place or produced meaningful impact during 2025
- Prior contributions that continue producing community impact in 2025 are eligible
- Previous winners are ineligible for five years following their award
- Nominators may not nominate a family member
Selection Process
Nominations are reviewed by a community-led committee of three to seven Walhalla citizens appointed by the City. The committee reviews all nominations submitted during the window and selects the winner by majority vote. Committee deliberations are confidential.
- Submit your nomination online or by paper form by May 15, 2026
- Community committee reviews all nominations after the window closes
- Winner selected by committee vote — deliberations are confidential
- Winner announced at the annual State of Walhalla event
- Winner receives $1,000 cash prize and recognition plaque at the ceremony
Nominations are open March 1 – May 15, 2026
Know someone who has made Walhalla a better place? Submit a nomination online in about 10 minutes. You will need the nominee's name and contact information, a description of their contributions, and your own contact details.
Prefer a paper form? A printable PDF nomination form is available at City Hall, 105 W South Broad Street, Walhalla SC 29691, or call (864) 638-4343.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I nominate someone who lives outside Walhalla?
Yes. Nominees do not need to reside inside Walhalla city limits. What matters is that their actions have directly benefited the City of Walhalla and its citizens.
Can I nominate a group or organization?
Yes. Groups and organizations are fully eligible. If nominating a group, use the group’s official name in the nominee name field and provide a primary contact for correspondence.
Can I nominate someone who won the award before?
Prior winners are ineligible for five years following their award. If the person you want to nominate received the Wagner Award within the last five years, please wait until they are eligible again.
Can I nominate myself?
Self-nominations are not accepted. Nominations must come from a community member other than the nominee. Nominators may not be a family member of the nominee.
When and how is the winner announced?
Winners are announced at the City of Walhalla’s annual State of Walhalla event. Nominators and nominees are not notified in advance of the announcement.
Who reviews the nominations?
A community-led committee of three to seven Walhalla citizens appointed by the City reviews all nominations after the May 15 deadline. Deliberations are confidential.
What should a strong nomination include?
The most compelling nominations are specific: they describe exactly what the nominee did, when they did it, and what measurable or observable impact resulted for Walhalla and its residents. General statements like ‘she is a great volunteer’ are less effective than concrete details: ‘she organized and funded the restoration of the downtown mural in March 2025, which attracted regional media coverage and increased foot traffic to downtown businesses.’