Kohl’s department stores are currently accepting nominations for the Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program.

Through the program, the company will award more than $420,000 in scholarships and prizes, ranging from $50 Kohl’s gift cards to $10,000 scholarships, to more than 2,200 young volunteers who have made a positive impact on their communities.

You can nominate children in your community ages 6 to 18 for a scholarship from Feb. 1 to March 15 at kohlskids.com.

Since the program began in 2001, Kohl’s has recognized more than 15,000 kids with more than $3 million in scholarships and prizes. This year, Kohl’s celebrates its 12^th year of rewarding young volunteers.

Two nominees from each of the more than 1,100 Kohl’s stores nationwide will win a $50 Kohl’s gift card, and more than 200 will win regional scholarships worth $1,000 toward post-secondary education. Ten national winners will be awarded a total of $10,000 in scholarships for post-secondary education and Kohl’s will donate $1,000 to a nonprofit organization on each national winner’s behalf.  

Last year’s national winner was Sarah Kladar, 12, of Hayden, Idaho, who sold approximately 5,000 dishtowels to raise nearly $50,000 to help financially-burdened families pay for surgery-related expenses that were not covered by insurance.

Will someone from your community be one of the big winners this year? Nominate them at kohlskids.com.

Editor's Note: This article appears on multiple Patch sites in Morris, Sussex and Somerset counties.