Nominations for the 25^th annual ROSE (Rockwood Outstanding Service in Education) Award Program are currently being accepted as a way to recognize any individual volunteer or Rockwood employee for his or her contributions to the school community.

The ROSE award is a prestigious award given only to those chosen by a 17-member committee from the list of nominees.

Individuals can be nominated by any student, staff member, parent, community member or business person.

In order to nominate someone, either an online PDF nomination form (available at www.rockwood.k12.mo.us/rose) or a nomination form from any Rockwood facility must be submitted. All nomination forms are due Wednesday, January 29, 2014.

In the past, Lafayette has been home to many nominees.

“We usually have two or three on the list of nominees,” Jill Ralph, Principal’s Secretary, said

Most recently for Lafayette, Librarian Nichole Ballard-Long won a Rose Award in 2012.

The ROSE Award serves to honor those whose service has had a positive impact on a student or the community at large.

“[It] acknowledges somebody that’s done above and beyond for somebody in the school; a teacher that’s done a really exceptional job or a staff member, or anybody at a district office is also eligible. I think it’s just an acknowledgement that they’ve done something special,” Ralph said.

After announcing the winners on March 3, the 2014 ROSE Awards will be presented Sunday, May 4 at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis at Westport.