Nominations are being sought for the 2026 Cora McQuestion Spirit of Prior Lake Award.

The annual award is presented by the City of Prior Lake to honor a business, nonprofit organization or individual whose actions have made a significant and positive impact on the community. Named after Cora McQuestion, Prior Lake’s first female mayor, the award recognizes community members who perform good deeds without expecting recognition or reward.

Nominations for the Award may be submitted throughout the year. Anyone can nominate someone for this Award. Nominations will be reviewed and the winner in 2026 will be selected in July by the City’s Community Engagement Committee. The award will be presented at a subsequent City Council meeting. This year’s winner will be honored at the St. Paul Saints baseball game during Prior Lake Day on Thursday, August 6.

Previous award winners include Wayne Borchardt, Woody Spitzmueller, Kathy Dawson and Dawn Schulberg.

McQuestion was elected mayor of Prior Lake in 1926, and she reportedly aspired to the role after deterring those who intended to rob Prior Lake State Bank in 1922. At that time, the bank was located where Edelweiss Bakery now operates. After seeing bandits prowling, McQuestion grabbed her shotgun and fired volleys into the air, frightening the criminals and running them out of town. McQuestion served one term as Mayor and died in 1942 at the age of 58.

A copy of nomination form can be found here.