Crystal Awards

The East Lansing Crystal Awards first started in 1988 as a way to honor individuals who had made significant contributions to community life in the City of East Lansing. To this day, the Crystal Awards continues to annually honor individuals, businesses, organizations and community groups that have made an outstanding contributions in East Lansing. Crystal Award recipients are dedicated to enhancing the East Lansing community. They demonstrate a passion and commitment to creating a healthy and vibrant community and serve as an inspiration to others. View past recipients (1998-2020). 

The Mission of the Crystal Awards

The Crystal Awards program, hosted by the East Lansing City Council, strives to honor and lift up individuals, businesses, organizations and community groups that have, over time, enhanced life in the City of East Lansing and made it a more welcoming and affirming place to live, work and do business.  

Nominations & Selection Criteria

Community members are invited to nominate individuals, businesses, organizations and community groups that meet the criteria for a Crystal Award. All community nominations are reviewed by a community selection committee and four recipients are selected on an annual basis and honored at a community reception. 

Crystal Awards recipients are dedicated to enhancing East Lansing. They demonstrate a passion for and commitment to creating a healthy and vibrant community and serve as an inspiration to others. Additionally, the City is pleased to include two new categories for the 2023 Crystal Awards: a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging category and a Spirit of East Lansing category. Learn more about the Crystal Awards Categories & Selection Criteria here.

The nomination period has ended for 2023. Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations!

Community Reception

The 2023 Crystal Awards community reception will take place on Thursday, April 27 at 5 p.m. at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road. If planning to attend, please RSVP to Karla Forrest-Hewitt at mailto:khewitt@cityofeastlansing.com.