The Sacred Service Commendation is now available through Volunteer Scholars, recognizing volunteers whose work supports their faith communities, religious institutions, and religious programs.
The American Volunteer Service Award and other community service recognitions exclude work connected to worship, religious education, or congregational life. Yet these roles require dedication, reliability, leadership, and compassion. The Sacred Service Commendation ensures that this meaningful service receives formal recognition.
An Inclusive, Interfaith Recognition
The Sacred Service Commendation is an inclusive, interfaith honor. It does not rank or compare religious beliefs. Instead, it recognizes the shared values of service, responsibility, compassion, and community care.
Its eight-sided medallion represents inclusion and the many paths through which people serve. The design incorporates symbols associated with Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto, and Sikhism.
What Service May Qualify?
Eligible activities may include assisting with worship services, religious education, youth programs, camps, retreats, administrative work, hospitality, event preparation, maintenance projects, fundraisers, festivals, and faith-based service trips for churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other faith-based organizations.
The award recognizes active, documented service- not attendance at worship, classes, retreats, or social activities.
Available Early for Current Elite Members
The Sacred Service Commendation will be available to Elite and Elite Senior members for the 2026–27 award year. However, the physical awards arrived sooner than expected, and the program is fully ready to launch.
These beautiful medals are now in stock, and Volunteer Scholars has completed all procedures needed to track, review, certify, and award qualifying service. Rather than waiting until September, the commendation is being made available immediately to all current 2025–26 Elite and Elite Senior members.
Members whose service to a faith community was returned or rejected earlier in the current award year may resubmit those activities for consideration for the Sacred Service Commendation. Entries should include detailed descriptions and appropriate supporting documentation.
The award is ready, the medals are here, and the review process is in place, so there is no reason to wait for the next award year!
Award Requirements
To earn the commendation, a student must complete:
- 75 hours of qualifying faith-centered service
- A reflective essay of no more than 500 words
Recipients receive a print-ready certificate and a three-inch commemorative medal on a purple ribbon.
Separate from Community Service
The Sacred Service Commendation is intended for work that directly supports a faith community or religious institution. Service organized by a religious group but primarily benefiting the wider public- such as food drives, homeless outreach, refugee assistance, or disaster relief- may instead qualify for the American Volunteer Service Award.
Recognizing Quiet, Meaningful Service
Sacred service often happens quietly- before a congregation arrives, after an event ends, or behind the scenes in a classroom, kitchen, office, or worship space. The Sacred Service Commendation ensures that this dedication, and the volunteers behind it, are formally recognized.