Southborough committee finalizes 'History Makers' nomination criteria, plans fall rollout

Committee members reviewed and refined the History Makers nomination form and eligibility criteria for Southborough’s tricentennial recognition program.

Committee working-group leads explained the draft criteria: nominees must be living, and should be residents or former residents of Southborough, or organizations or businesses with substantial ties to the town. Nominees can self-nominate; the working group will screen submissions and handle photos and promotional materials. The group recommended limiting winners to one per category while highlighting all nominees to celebrate broad participation.

“We felt that the nominee must be either a Southboro resident, a former resident. They could be an organization, a business, or an employee in Southborough. They must be living,” a working-group presenter said while walking committee members through the nomination draft. Committee members flagged the need to avoid making the form a barrier to entry and suggested including an option for an honorable mention or broader recognition for strong nominees who do not win a category.

The committee debated timing for the nomination and award process. Some members favored accepting nominations and announcing winners across 2027, while others argued for a late‑2026 rollout to build momentum leading into the tricentennial year. The committee settled on preparing the nomination form and selection criteria by the end of May, launching promotion in September to capture interest through fall and accepting nominations into November with the working group reviewing entries afterward.

Next steps: the working group will edit the nomination form and present a final draft in the next packet for committee review.