The Partnership for Public Service honored the nine winners of this year’s Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals at a Washington, D.C. gala Thursday evening.

This video features Lynne Mofenson of the National Institutes of Health, who received the top award, Federal Employee of the Year, for her pivotal role in preventing the AIDS epidemic among children by developing ways to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

The medals, popularly known as “Sammies,” are awarded to public servants who are making high-impact contributions to the health, safety and well-being of Americans.

Read about and view videos of the other winners below: