Sammamish’s largest community awards celebration will have a different look in 2013.

The SAMMI Awards Foundation announced last week that it will change its format to increase the number of volunteers celebrated each year.

The annual celebration of volunteers will move from a competition-based event, which recognized only a few volunteers each year, to a more expansive recognition event.

“We’ve had a lot of feedback over the years on the competition-based program which ends up only recognizing a small number of community volunteers each year so the Board of Directors is moving in a new direction to recognize a greater number of volunteers, while still including a ‘surprise’ portion to the event,” said Kristina Williams, executive director of the SAMMI Awards Foundation.

All those nominated for SAMMIs within a category will be recognized during the March 15 event at Eastridge Church. In addition, a cross-section of SAMMI volunteer stories within each category will be shared during the onstage production.

The stories highlighted will represent a broad range of volunteer service and will be a surprise to all those in attendance.

The organization is currently looking for individuals who display high levels of commitment, volunteerism and community involvement in one of the following five revised categories:

CIRCLE OF SERVICE: A person who displays, through years of service, a longstanding commitment to volunteerism and community involvement, inspiring others to give back, completing the Circle of Service.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT: A person (18 or older) who displays the highest level of volunteer commitment to the community by selflessly giving of their time and talents.

COURAGE: A person who overcomes obstacles, goes beyond expectations and displays acts of selflessness in their service to others in Sammamish.

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP: A person who volunteers their resources and/or time advocating or working to protect Sammamish’s natural environment.

YOUTH SPIRIT: A youth (17 or younger) who shows a passion for helping others, volunteering in our community and setting a positive example.

For more than a decade, the SAMMIs have gathered the community and sharedstories of inspiration through the hard work of volunteer committees and with the generous sponsorship by individuals, businesses and community partners.

Volunteers can be nominated at, www.sammiawards.org.