Excellence in public service awards honor city employees

Driven by feedback from the Voice of the Workforce survey and building on recent employee morale initiatives, the program aims to elevate workforce culture and spotlight staff dedication across all municipal operations.

"Over 3,000 civil servants keep St. Louis running daily," said Mayor Cara Spencer. "Establishing a permanent annual tradition like this allows us to highlight the exceptional talent across our departments—from frontline crews to behind-the-scenes staff—who make a difference in our city every single day."

Department heads and appointing authorities are invited to nominate hardworking and dedicated civil servants. Finalists and winners will be selected by the Mayor's Office and Brian Light, director of personnel.

Event details

• Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026

• Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

• Location: The Rotunda at City Hall

• Attendance: Open to city employees and members of the public

Award categories

• The Frontline & Trades Hero Award: Honoring field, maintenance, and trades personnel.

• The Behind-the-Scenes Hero Award: Recognizing IT, payroll, administrative, and legal staff.

• The Resilience & Emergency Response Award: Celebrating exceptional service during crises and severe weather events.

• The Gateway Public Service Award: Highlighting resident-facing and community-centered work.

• The Innovation & Efficiency Award: Honoring process modernization and cost savings.

• The Civil Service Rising Star Award: Recognizing early-career talent with less than five years of municipal service.

• Mayor's Choice Award: The premier honor evaluated holistically across all core metrics.