• Has less than three years of service to the Lodge at June 30th of the current year
  
  
• Is a member of the Moose Legion
  
  
• Has enrolled at least two new members by June 30th of the current year
  
  
• Has held a Lodge office or served on a Lodge committee.

Each Lodge's nominee receives a certificate acknowledging his selection as his Lodge's Rookie of the Year.

All nominees of a Moose Association are blind-graded by members of a different Moose Association. The top nominee from each Association is evaluated by Moose International staff and ranked based on the information provided on the respective nomination forms. The top five become nominees for the Shining Star Rookie of the Year. The top nominee receives the Shining Star Award, which is announced during each year's International Moose Convention.

The 2012 Rookie of the Year is
Bret James of Grants Pass/Merlin, OR Lodge 2454