Unity Impact Awards 2026
Rules & Eligibility
Please review these rules before submitting a nomination. Eligibility will be verified before honoree selection.
Who is eligible
Eligible nominees must have a meaningful connection to one of the counties served by the awards:
- Haywood County, Tennessee
- Tipton County, Tennessee
- Fayette County, Tennessee
All nominees are individuals. For Business of the Year, the award is presented to the business owner as a person, with the business name displayed beneath the owner's name. For co-owned businesses, both owner names may appear on the award. Youth Leader of the Year honors adult mentors and leaders who serve youth — minors are not eligible nominees.
Who is not eligible
- Keys to Life CDC board members
- Unity in the Community Festival organizers
- Judges
- Immediate family members of judges
- Festival sponsors
- Declared candidates for public office in the current election cycle
Festival sponsors are not eligible for competitive awards but may receive separate sponsor recognition. Eligibility will be verified before honoree selection.
Award categories
- Pastor of the Year
- Awarded to an individual pastor serving in Haywood, Tipton, or Fayette County.
- Educator of the Year
- Awarded to an individual educator serving students or families in Haywood, Tipton, or Fayette County.
- Business of the Year
- Awarded to the business owner, not the company itself.
- Nominate the owner. The award recognizes the person behind the business.
- Youth Leader of the Year
- Awarded to an adult leader or mentor making a meaningful impact on youth. Minors are not eligible nominees.
Photographs
Do not upload or submit photographs containing identifiable minors. Public honoree profiles use professional-looking photographs of the nominee only.
Community voting
Community voting is an engagement component of the Unity Impact Awards. Supporters may vote multiple times. Public voting contributes to the final award score but does not determine the winner by itself. Judge scoring carries the greater share of the final score, and vote totals are never published.
Important dates
- Nominations open: August 16, 2026
- Nomination deadline: September 2, 2026
- Honorees announced & voting opens: September 6, 2026
- Public voting closes: September 13, 2026
- Awards ceremony: September 19, 2026