The honor recognizes individuals who excel in public service and leverage their unique platforms to ignite and drive meaningful change. Last year, Kamala Harris was the recipient, with other recent past honorees including Amanda Gorman, Samuel L. Jackson, the late Rep. John Lewis, Ruby Dee, Tyler Perry and then-Sen. Barack Obama.

This year’s NAACP Image Awards ceremony is set to air live February 28 at 8 p.m. on BET and CBS from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

The EGOT winner Davis, who is up for a competitive Image Award this year nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie) for G20, has won seven Image Awards to date. The actor-producer-author also receive Golden Globes’ lifetime Cecile B. DeMille Award last year.

“Viola Davis is a generational talent who has commanded audiences with her powerful and transcending performances, at this year’s NAACP Image Awards, we are humbled to present her with the Chairman’s Award, shining a light on her deeply impactful commitment to driving change,” said Leon W. Russell, Chair, NAACP National Board of Directors. “Through a career defined by excellence and courage, she has used her platform to work towards opportunity and equity, crafting an undeniable legacy for generations to come. We look forward to celebrating her and the trailblazing path she has created for herself, and others to follow.”

This year’s Image Awards nominations are led by Sinners, the Oscar-nom record-setter, which landed 18 noms. One Battle After Another‘s Teyana Taylor and Kendrick Lamar leads individual nominees with six apiece, and both are up for the marquee Entertainer of the Year prize against Sinners star Michael B. Jordan, Doechii and Cynthia Erivo.