Don't wait, nominate: 40 Under 40 is back, and Knox News wants the best of East Tennessee!

You work alongside them every day or see them in your community − the young leaders who inspire their peers through devotion to their professions. It's time again to recognize these special folks through the Knox News 40 Under 40 awards, presented by Lincoln Memorial University School of Business.

The nomination period is open through 5 p.m. Aug. 21 and will not be extended, so it's time to start thinking about who most deserves this prestigious honor.

What are we looking for? The nomination form has all the details and can be found at knoxnews.wufoo.com/forms/knox-news-40-under-40-class-of-2024.

To sum it up, the ideal recipient is among the best of the best. He or she must live and work in East Tennessee and must be a leader and innovator in their careers and communities.

Those selected by our board will become members of the 2024 class, which will be announced this fall, followed by a Knox News feature on each winner in January 2025.

What are the guidelines for nominating?

Nominees must:

• Be 39 years of age or younger on Dec. 31, 2024 (and we'll check!)
• Live and work in East Tennessee
• Not have received the 40 Under 40 award before

What makes a good 40 Under 40 nomination?

Nominators must fill out the online form and share background on the nominee's professional and community achievements. The nomination should shine a light on why the nominee is an outstanding candidate for 40 Under 40.

What makes a strong nomination:

• Use examples and evidence to illustrate what makes the nominee special.
• "He's a great boss!" is not as strong as "He hired six people this year and gave everyone else a raise."
• Give detailed information to help the judges understand who this person is and what they've done.
• Add a resume, letters of support from other community members and any other relevant documents to support the nomination form.
• Don't wait until the last minute. The best nominations take time and help from others.
• Nominated someone last year who didn't make the cut? Take the time to update the nomination. A lot can change in a year.
• In general, it's a good idea to let the person know that you're nominating them. They can help provide supporting materials (and they're less likely to turn the honor down if they win!).
• Confirm age, job title and other basic resume details before you turn in the nomination.
• Don't just give us one-sentence responses. Put some thought into the nomination, as many other nominators will.
• Please don't just copy and paste the same nomination that someone else has written.

Looking for a good example of a 40 Under 40 recipient? Check out the winners from our most recent classes at knoxnews.com. 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019

The 2024 winners also will be honored with an in-person event in January. If you still have questions, reach out to ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com and we'll get them answered. Happy nominating!