HAViK First Responder of the Month – Official Rules

Program Overview

HAViK First Responder of the Month is a recurring monthly recognition program honoring U.S. first responders who demonstrate grit, courage, and commitment in service to their communities.

The program includes a public nomination, an internal finalist selection process, public voting, and the announcement of a monthly winner.

Eligibility

This program is open to U.S.-based, federally recognized first responders, including but not limited to:

  • Firefighters
  • Law Enforcement
  • EMTs / Paramedics
  • 911 Dispatchers / Public Safety Telecommunicators
  • Search & Rescue (SAR)
  • HazMat
  • Emergency Management
  • Public Safety Officers
  • Federal Responders
  • Medical Responders (ER / Trauma Nurses)
  • Volunteer Rescue Squads

Nominees must be actively serving or have previously served in an eligible role.
HAViK reserves the right to verify eligibility at any time.

Participants submitting nominations or votes must be 18 years of age or older.

Nomination Process

  • Nominations are open year-round and reviewed monthly during the second week of each month.
  • Anyone may submit a nomination.
  • Each nomination must include:
  • Nominee name and role
  • Department or agency
  • A written nomination story
  • A photo of the nominee
  • Submitting a nomination does not guarantee finalist selection.

All nominations are reviewed internally by the HAViK team.

Finalist Selection (Week 2)

HAViK will manually select five (5) finalists from eligible nominations.

Finalist selection is based on:

  • Impact of service
  • Nomination story
  • Alignment with the values of the HAViK First Responder of the Month program

Nominees not selected may be considered again in future months during the same calendar year. 

Finalists will be announced prior to the voting period.

Voting Period (Week 3)

  • Public voting is open during the third week of each month.
  • Voting lasts one (1) week.
  • Voters may submit one (1) vote per email address per day.
  • Vote totals are not displayed publicly.
  • HAViK reserves the right to remove votes associated with:
    • Automated activity
    • Duplicate or fraudulent behavior
    • Attempts to manipulate voting results

Winner Selection & Announcement (Week 4)

  • The finalist with the highest number of valid votes at the close of the voting period will be selected as the winner.
  • HAViK will notify the winner directly.
  • The winner will be announced publicly during the final week of the month and featured in a dedicated profile on the HAViK website.

 

Previous winners may be eligible again after one (1) year, at HAViK’s discretion. Our goal is to share the spotlight and recognize as many deserving first responders as possible.

Prizes

  • The monthly winner will receive a prize package provided by HAViK and participating sponsors.
  • Prize contents and approximate retail value may vary month to month.
  • Prizes may include, but are not limited to:
    • HAViK gear
    • Sponsor-provided products
    • Custom recognition items

 

Approximate Monthly Retail Value: $600

Prizes are non-transferable and may not be substituted or redeemed for cash.

Winners are responsible for any applicable federal, state, or local taxes associated with prize receipt.

Publicity & Content Use

By accepting a nomination and participating in voting, participants grand HAViK permission to:

  • Use nominee and winner names, images, stories, and likenesses
  • Publish program-related content on the HAViK website, social media, and marketing materials

No additional compensation will be provided for such use.

Sponsor Disclaimer

Participating sponsors provide prizes only and are not responsible for program administration, finalist selection, voting, or winner determination.

General Conditions

  • HAViK reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the program at any time.
  • HAViK reserves the right to disqualify nominations or votes that violate these rules or compromise the integrity of the program.
  • This program is void where prohibited by law.