As part of the entry process, all program participants are required to submit an essay describing the development and execution of a program or service that had a positive impact on those served (Category 1, Criterion I). Funeral homes that develop a program or service that is exceptionally well-executed and yielded positive results will receive a Certificate of Honorable Mention from the Pursuit of Excellence Task Force.

• 2020 Honorable Mention
  • Cannon Cleveland Funeral Directors, McDonough, GA
  • Copeland Funeral Service, Beaufort, SC
  • Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., East Pittsburgh, PA
  • Pixley Funeral Home, Rochester, MI
  • Radney Funeral Home, Alexander City, AL
  • Reichmuth Funeral Home, Elkhorn, NE
• 2019 Honorable Mentions 
  • A.H. Peters Funeral Home, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
  • Anderson Funeral Home, Alexandria, MN
  • Arlington Memorial Chapels, Inc., Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
  • Brunswick Memorial Home, East Brunswick, NJ
  • Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home, Covington, GA
  • Funeraria San Vicente, Medellin, Colombia
  • Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care, Madison, WI
  • Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., Hamburg, NY
  • Macz Funeral Home, Centralia, IL
  • Morada da Paz, Paulista, PE, Brazil
  • Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, Madison, IN
  • Myers Mortuary - Ogden, Ogden, UT
  • Oakey's Funeral Service & Crematory - South Chapel, Roanoke, VA
  • Old Bridge Funeral Home, Old Bridge, NJ
  • Oliverie Funeral Home, Manchester, NJ
  • Radney Funeral Home, Alexander City, AL
  • Watson-Thomas Funeral Home, Galesburg, IL
  • Weeks' Dryer Mortuary, Tacoma, WA