The By Degrees Foundation announced that nominations are open for the annual Middleton Awards. The Middleton Awards for Educator Excellence and Children’s Advocacy are given to those who have positively changed the trajectory of children’s lives through education, advocacy, mentoring, public policy or other means. The awards were created to recognize the community effort needed to ensure more children have access to resources that help them thrive. The awards are named for longtime Des Moines residents and children’s advocates Joan and the late Lyle Middleton. “We created this award as an opportunity to lift up the important work that so many people do to support children in our community, both in and out of the classroom. Investing in kids has such a powerful, long-term impact, and the Middleton Award aims to highlight those who dedicate their lives to this important work,” said Emily Westergaard, the foundation’s chief executive officer, in a prepared statement. The award recipients will be honored during a ceremony on September 25.