Seven individuals and organizations will be recognized for their work during Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs’ 16th Excellence in Virginia Government Awards. Recipients will be honored at a luncheon Tuesday, April 11, at the Richmond Marriott Hotel, 500 E. Broad St.

The awards and honorees include:

• Community Enhancement Award

– Drive-To-Work will be honored for its advocacy in assisting low-income and/or previously incarcerated people to restore their driving privileges, and ensure transportation for their employment. Founded in 2007, Drive-To-Work was the first organization in Virginia to advocate for helping people get their driver’s licenses restored through legal and educational services.

• Unsung Heroes Award

– Rebecca Gwynn will be recognized for her work to preserve wildlife and conservation lands in Virginia for more than 35 years. As assistant deputy director of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Ms. Gwyn has championed the state’s first wildlife action plan, leading the development of the Watchable Wildlife Program and statewide Bird and Wildlife Trail, and leading the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Seabird Conservation Initiative.

• Hill-Robinson Expansion of Freedom Award

– John V. Moeser will be honored posthumously for his work as a longtime educator and scholar on race, government and politics, and was a founding member of the Urban and Regional Studies and Planning program at the Wilder School.

• Innovation in Government Award

– Henrico County Public Library’s Fairfield Area Library will be recognized for its “Work and Play Stations.” The stations are a unique feature of the library, developed by HCPL staff and the library’s design team to allow parents or caregivers to use computers while children are safe and playing.

Public-Private Partnership Award

– The Virginia Department of Veterans Services Military Medics and Corpsmen Program will be honored for its partnership with hospitals and medical facilities to employ military veterans with health care experience and training. MMAC’s work helps veterans with medical experience and credentials that struggle to find work after leaving the military.

Lifetime Achievement Award

– Charles S. Robb will be recognized for his work statewide and the country as a former United States senator and the 64th governor of Virginia. Mr. Robb’s gubernatorial tenure saw the state increase its education spending and the Port of Hampton Roads become the fastest-growing port in America.

Grace E. Harris Leadership Award

– Angela Patton, CEO of Girls For A Change, will be recognized for her work in preparing and empowering Black girls to design, lead, fund and implement social change projects that tackle issues they face in their own neighborhoods.

Additional information about the honorees, luncheon registration and scholarship support information can be found at bit.ly/vcuevga.