Youth achievement awards to be given
Published 7:55 pm Saturday, April 16, 2011
Parents, teachers and coaches, get out your nominating pens. The Suffolk Youth Achievement Awards are back.
The awards will be given to middle and high school students on June 7. The awards are part of a citywide strategy to honor the positive accomplishments of young people.
This year’s awards will honor young people in the categories of community service, athletic participation (for middle school students), athletic achievement (for high school students), youth leadership, performing arts, a “rising star” and group citizenship.
The awards are open to all young people who reside in Suffolk. Any adult is able to nominate a person or group for the award.
“We feel this gives an opportunity to highlight the positive things young people are doing,” Lakita Frazier, director of Parks and Recreation, said of last year’s awards. “We wanted to highlight some of the young people that are not getting in trouble.”
The awards are sponsored by the Suffolk Department of Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, in conjunction with the Suffolk Office on Youth.
The nominations include applications, two letters of recommendation, proof of academic achievement and community service and a written essay from the nominee.
Last year’s inaugural recipients included community volunteers, a first-chair clarinet player, state champion athletes and the Men of Distinction group at Lakeland High School.
Nomination packets, criteria guidelines and more are available online at www.suffolkva.us/siy.html. Deadline for submission is May 15. For more information, call Jennifer Branham at 514-4503 or Lakita Frazier at 514-7250.