The Nominees are in for the Oscars for Federal Employees -- find out who made the cut

It's been a rough couple of weeks for federal employees. First with the GSA conference scandal and then the Secret Service Prostitution scandal. But feds are doing some amazing work and the Partnership for Public Service is highlighting those achievements in their annual awards program. 

The 33rd Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal (SAMMIES) finalists have been announced. The SAMMIES highlight federal employees whose important, behind-the-scenes work is advancing the health, safety and well-being of Americans. 

It's basically the Oscars for Federal Employees. Each year PPS highlights nominees in eight different categories. 

Tim McManus is the Vice President for Education and Outreach at PPS. He told Chris Dorobek on the DorobekINSIDER program all about the awards program and the inside track on some of the great work these feds are doing. 

Tim McManus talks to Chris Dorobek about the Sammies by cdorobek  

View all of the 2012 finalists by medal category:

• Call to Service Medal
• Career Achievement Medal
• Citizen Services Medal
• Homeland Security Medal
• Justice and Law Enforcement Medal
• Management Excellence Medal
• National Security and International Affairs Medal
• Science and Environment Medal