Nominate a Community Star

In preparation for this year's National Rural Health Day (November 20, 2025), it is time to nominate our next Maryland Community Star!  

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health's (NOSORH) annual Community Star Recognition Program is one of the most popular features of National Rural Health Day. The program is designed to honor those whose contributions are making a difference in rural health through collaboration, education, innovation, and communication.

The nominee’s work and accomplishments should include at least one of the following:

•   Demonstrate that they contribute to cultivating a vital, innovative rural health landscape and infrastructure;

•   Develop leadership capacity to grow rural population health and health equity.

•   Build capacity for rural data-driven program planning and decision making; or

•   Contribute to rural health innovation, education, collaboration, and communication.

Is someone serving rural Maryland coming to mind (an individual, organization, or coalition)?!  Nominate Maryland's 2025 Community Star by emailing the following to jamie.cardillo@maryland.gov by Friday, July 11, 2025: 

• Nominator’s contact information 

• Community Star nominee name and contact information, including their organization/affiliation

• Nominator’s connection to the nominee

• Description of the nominee’s “star” qualities with examples of how the nominee demonstrates these qualities in their work and service.

• Geographic area of the nominee’s work

• Confirmation that the nominator has notified the nominee of their nomination, and the nomination will be accepted. 

This year's Star will join an elite group of Maryland-serving individuals!  See past Stars here: https://www.powerofrural.org/past-editions/.