The Edgar Fellow’s Program and The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute are partnering to create a new award. The Edgar-Simon award will first be presented in 2021 to a state or local government official.
The honor will be awarded each summer to an official who has demonstrated competence, bipartisanship, and integrity.
“What we want to do is explore and find high quality leaders who are doing constructive things in their community and put a spotlight on this work,” John Shaw, director of the Simon institute at Southern Illinois University, told The State Journal-Register. “[The award] will reflect the significant legacies of Senator Simon and Governor Edgar, both strong and independent leaders determined to advance policies that look to the future.”