How to Nominate a Fedora Mentor or Contributor for the 2026 Recognition Program

Overview

Every thriving open source community depends on individuals who go the extra mile—offering guidance, writing documentation, organizing events, or building code. The Fedora Project celebrates these exceptional people through its yearly Contributor Recognition Program. In coordination with the Fedora Mentor Summit 2026, winners will be announced at Flock To Fedora 2026. This guide walks you through the nomination process so you can help shine a light on the mentors and contributors who make Fedora great.

Whether you are recognizing a veteran mentor who guided your first steps or a contributor whose quiet work reshaped the community, your nomination matters. It not only honors their efforts but also inspires others to contribute. Below you will find everything you need: prerequisites, step-by-step instructions, common pitfalls, and a summary to keep you on track.

Prerequisites

Before you start your nomination, ensure you meet these requirements:

• Be an active member of the Fedora community – You do not need to be a formal committee member, but you should have participated in Fedora activities (e.g., mailing lists, IRC, events, code contributions) long enough to recognise exceptional work.
• Identify a worthy nominee – The nominee can be a mentor (someone who actively guides newcomers) or a contributor (anyone who consistently adds value—developers, writers, translators, event coordinators, QA testers, etc.).
• Gather specific details – To make a strong case, collect concrete examples of the nominee’s contributions, such as pull requests, wiki pages, events organised, or testimonials from community members.
• Know the deadline – Nominations close on 15 May 2026. Mark your calendar!

Step-by-Step Nomination Guide

Follow these steps to submit a compelling nomination. Each step includes practical advice and links to resources.

1. Understand the Nomination Categories

Although the program recognises both mentors and general contributors, you should tailor your nomination to highlight the specific impact. A mentor nomination might emphasise how the person helped newcomers navigate the community, while a contributor nomination could focus on measurable outcomes (e.g., number of commits, wiki edits, or successful events).

2. Research the Nominee’s Contributions

Dig into the Fedora Project’s public records to gather evidence. Look at:

• Git repositories – Check commit history on Pagure or GitHub for code contributions.
• Fedora Wiki – See pages they have authored or edited (e.g., Fedora Wiki).
• Mailing lists and forums – Find posts where they provided extensive help.
• Event participation – If they organised or spoke at Flock, a local meetup, or a Fedora Activity Day, note the details.

3. Write a Detailed Nomination

When filling out the form, be specific and vivid. Use the following structure (you can copy this into your notes):

1. Nominee’s name and Fedora/IRC handle (if known).
2. Category – Mentor or Contributor (choose the one that best fits).
3. Key contributions – List 2–3 concrete achievements. For example: “Created the Fedora on ARM testing framework, which reduced test time by 40%.”
4. Impact – Explain how their work helped the community. Did it onboard new contributors? Improve infrastructure? Foster collaboration?
5. Supporting evidence – Provide links to relevant PRs, wiki pages, or emails. If you have permission, you can attach a brief quote from another community member.

Example snippet for a mentor nomination: “Jane Doe (jdoe) has been a Fedora Ambassador for three years. She personally mentored 12 new contributors through the Fedora Mentoring Program, guiding them through their first package reviews. One of her mentees later became a package maintainer. Jane also runs a weekly office hour on IRC where she answers packaging questions.”

4. Access the Official Form

Use the official nomination form at: https://forms.gle/mBAVKw4qLu14R5YY7. This form collects all the details you prepared in step 3. Make sure you fill all required fields—especially the nominee’s name and a clear description of their contributions.

5. Review Before Submitting

Double-check for typos or incomplete URLs. Ensure the nomination truly reflects the nominee’s impact. If possible, ask a fellow Fedora member to read your draft for clarity. Then submit before the deadline.

6. After Submitting

Once submitted, your nomination enters the review process. The Fedora Contributor Recognition Committee will evaluate all candidates. Winners will be announced at Flock To Fedora 2026. You do not need to do anything else—but feel free to spread the word so others also nominate!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these pitfalls to ensure your nomination has the best chance:

• Nominating yourself – The program is for others to recognise you. Self-nominations are not allowed.
• Being too vague – Phrases like “they are a great contributor” without specifics won’t stand out. Provide concrete evidence.
• Missing the deadline – Mark 15 May 2026 in your calendar. Late submissions are not considered.
• Forgetting to include links – If you mention a wiki page or a pull request, include the URL. The committee uses this to verify contributions.
• Nominating the same person multiple times – One strong nomination per person is enough. Duplicate entries do not increase chances.
• Ignoring the category – Make it clear whether the nominee is being proposed as a mentor or a contributor. Mixing them can confuse the evaluators.

Summary

Recognising Fedora’s unsung heroes is a powerful way to strengthen the community. By following this guide—understanding the program, identifying a deserving mentor or contributor, gathering evidence, and submitting a detailed nomination—you can help ensure that those who make Fedora thrive receive the credit they deserve. Remember: the deadline is 15 May 2026, and winners will be celebrated at Flock To Fedora 2026. Start today, and let your nomination make a difference.