The annual Lion of the Year is a way for your club to recognize someone whose excellence continues to shine in your club. Each year, clubs throughout our district are asked to nominate a Lion whose hard work and dedication made a difference for their club. The nominees are then voted on by the District’s Executive Team with the winner announced at District Convention.

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Each year, the Dick Schwedrsky Award of Excellence recognizes a person in Lions District 27-D1 who strives for excellence and exemplifies hard work while volunteering in a district cabinet position role. Previous award winners nominate a selection of nominees for that year with the winner being approved by PDG Dick Schwedrsky’s late wife, Cinda Schwedrsky. The winner is then announced at the 27-D1 District convention.

Past Winners are:

2019 – Bruce Voight, McFarland
2021 – Jerry Schmitz, Mineral Point
2022 – Adam Crowson, Cross Plains
2023 – Tim Meier, Cuba City
2024 – Steve Pogue, Sun Prairie
2025 – Tony Sobczak, DeForest-Windsor
2026 – John Jenson, Madison Central
2026 – Bill Severson, Mount Horeb

Each year, District Governors can nominate four diverse Lions and Leos in their districts whose innovative contributions meet certain criteria in the areas of service, membership, leadership and marketing. Nominating New Voices helps not only diversify membership but the ways their clubs serve. 

Once chosen, New Voices nominees serve as regional role models that are promoted throughout the year to drive engagement, promote leadership, and inspire a new wave of diverse members to join our association.

A Lions or Leo club that has performed outstanding service in a global cause may be nominated for the Kindness Matters Service Award. Lions or Leo clubs that wish to be nominated must be in active status and have reported their service project on MyLion® or their regional reporting system. A minimum of two of the 20 awards will be awarded to Leo clubs. Lions and Leo club nominations should be submitted separately.

Nomination Deadlines
• July 1 to October 31: Nominations are open.
• August 15: Deadline for club service chairpersons and Leo club presidents to electronically send one nomination to the District GST coordinator.
• September 15: Deadline for District GST coordinator to electronically send one nomination to the Multiple District GST coordinator.
• October 31: Deadline for Multiple District GST coordinator to send one Lions and/or one Leo nomination to Lions Clubs International.

Nomination forms can be found here.

This is the second highest award a Lion can receive from Lions Club International. Awarded by the International President, this medal recognizes Lions who distinguish themselves for exemplary service that significantly strengthens their community or the Association by being personally involved in club service projects, being supportive of the programs of Lions Clubs International, being supportive of LCIF and having sponsored at least one new member.

Past winners are listed here. 

This is the third highest award a Lion can receive from Lions Club International. Awarded by the International President, this medal recognizes Lions who distinguish themselves for exemplary service that significantly strengthens their community or the Association by being personally involved in club service projects, being supportive of the programs of Lions Clubs International, being supportive of LCIF and having sponsored at least one new member.

Past winners are listed here. 

The Helmer Lecy Sight Service Award recognizes up to two Lions and/or non-Lions each year for outstanding volunteer service in the field of sight (restoration, saving or any other sight-related projects).
DGs wishing to nominate someone for this Award, must submit their nominee to the CC by January 1st. A maximum of one nomination per District per year is allowed.
Nominations must be submitted on the Helmer Lecy Sight Service Award Nomination Form.
Previous Helmer Lecy Sight Service Award recipients are not eligible, unless extraordinary circumstances permit.

Past Winners can be found here.