Senator Collins Receives Excellence in Public Service Award from John Glenn College of Public Affairs
Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins and students from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs’ Fellowship Program
Click HERE for a photo of Senator Collins receiving the award
Washington, D.C. —U.S. Senator Susan Collins was honored with the 2019 Excellence in Public Service Award from the Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs last evening. Past recipients of this prestigious award include Vice President Joe Biden in 2018 and U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis in 2017.
“The word ‘hero’ is somewhat overused these days. In the case of John Glenn, however, it is fitting,” said Senator Collins. “Any one page from his remarkable biography would be more than enough to inspire us — a decorated fighter pilot in World War II and Korea, a courageous test pilot pushing the boundaries of flight and human endurance, and an outstanding member of the United States Senate dedicated to our nation’s well-being. John Glenn inspired us to look to the stars, to dream big dreams, to imagine the great things we could accomplish as one nation united by purpose, determination, and courage. It is in that spirit that I gratefully accept this award and thank the John Glenn College of Public Affairs for advancing those noble principles.”
Senator Rob Portman introduced Senator Collins at the award reception and said, “Bipartisanship, civility, and quiet diligence. Those are the traits that make a true public servant, and those are the traits I see every day in Susan’s actions. The way in which Susan has served Maine and the United States is a model to which we should all aspire. I’m proud to have her as a colleague. She is truly an exceptional public servant, and I can think of no one more deserving of this award.”
“In the public service tradition of Senator John Glenn, we are proud to honor Senator Susan Collins with this year’s Excellence in Public Service Award. She is a model of elected service and bipartisanship,” said Trevor L. Brown, Dean of the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at the Ohio State University.
For 30 years, the Excellence in Public Service Award has been presented each summer during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., and honors individuals who have a distinguished history of public service that led to more effective public administration. Drawing on the vision and achievements of Senator John Glenn, honorees reflect the ideals of their mission and inspire others to serve. The late Senator John Glenn was a decorated U.S. Marine aviator, a legendary NASA astronaut, and a tireless public servant.
During the event, Senator Collins met with a group of approximately 30 students from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs’ Fellowship Program. The Washington Academic Internship Program (WAIP) selects outstanding undergraduates from any major to spend a semester in Washington, D.C., as John Glenn Fellows.
Last week, Senator Collins cast her 7,000th consecutive roll call vote – becoming the third Senator in U.S. history to reach this milestone. She also holds the record for consecutive votes cast by Senators who have never missed a roll call vote.
For the sixth year in a row, the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University released a study in March ranking Senator Collins as the most bipartisan Senator.
