Greater Mankato Area Annual Pathfinder Awards

Do you know a community member or organization whose contributions and actions exemplify the ideas of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? If so, please consider nominating them for one of the following Pathfinder Awards:

Business Pathfinder Award
​First presented in 2003, this award recognizes area businesses that strive for equal treatment, human rights, and non-violence in the workplace.

Young Pathfinder Award
Added in 2002, this award recognizes the commitment and courage displayed by area young people, age 18 or younger, to achieve fair and equal treatment for all, healthy communities, and peaceful resolution to conflicts. 

Pathfinder Award
Created in 1986, the Pathfinder Award recognizes individuals or organizations that, in the spirit of Dr. King, are initiators or action takers in the struggle for equal treatment, human rights and non-violence. The award represents the ideal that all people should be treated fairly and equally without the fear of discrimination on any basis.

Submit a nomination

Pathfinder Nomination Form

Nominations are reviewed annually and awarded at the GMDC Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration. Starting in 2023, the event is held in November to commemorate Dr. King's visit and public speeches in Mankato on November 12, 1961. (Prior to 2023, the event was held in January, in alignment with Dr King's birthdate.)

• Nominees must be located in the Greater Mankato-North Mankato area.
• Nominations should be submitted by September 15 in order to be evaluated for the November awards of the same calendar year. 
• Nominations received after the September 15 deadline will be collected and evaluated for the following calendar year.

The following questions are asked of the Nominee

• Which Pathfinder Award is this nomination for (Young Pathfinder, Pathfinder, or Business Pathfinder)? 
• What has this individual, organization, or business done in the community (or within it's organization/business) to exemplify the ideals of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?
• How have these activities contributed to the ideals that all people should be treated fairly and equally without fear of discrimination on any basis?
• Why are you nominating this individual, organization, or business? How have you been influenced by their activities?
• The nomination also requests name and contact information for both Nominee and the person submitting the nomination.

The Pathfinder Award Committee may contact the nominee, nominator, and others to obtain additional information as needed. All information included in the nomination or obtained at a later date, may be used for promotion of this award. 

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MLK Commemoration

Pathfinder Awards

Submit a nomination