Sarnia-Lambton’s Celebration of Youth Awards, a program of the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario, is looking for candidates for the honor and $1,000 prize that comes with it.
“The Y Celebration of Youth Awards is, without a doubt, a unique event that we’ve got here in the Sarnia-Lambton area that I think the YMCA and the community at large is pretty proud of,” said Joe Cebulski, a regional manager with the YMCA.
The program has been running in the Sarnia area since the 1990s and has awarded a total of more than $300,000 over the years, he said.
“It’s one of the opportunity we can showcase some of the amazing, outstanding, I would say, talented achievements from the young people in Sarnia-Lambton.”
Applications are being accepted until March 19, from individuals 17 to 20, online at www.ymcaswo.ca/celebration-youth-awards.
“After they apply, they go through an interview process,” Cebulski said.
“At the end of the day, we are fortunate enough to have the support from the community to have 20 $1,000 awards to give to the successful recipients.”
The awards are intended to help young people pursuing post-secondary education, Cebulski said.
Interviews with applicants are expected to be held in April. The winners will be announced later in the spring.
Cebulski said organizers are excited this year because they will be able to return to an in-person celebration of the winners after holding them virtually during pandemic restrictions.
“We were still able to impact young people and provide those scholarships to them throughout the entire pandemic,” he said.
“We are super excited to be able to do an in-person celebration this spring and really bring family and friends, and the community, together and let these young people know how proud we are of them and their accomplishments.”
Recipients are expected to embody YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and inclusiveness.
Awards are given in three categories: volunteerism, advocacy and community service; health, wellness and perseverance; skills development and creative expression.
“Ultimately it’s youth who have demonstrated leadership, sensitivity to others, innovation, development of personal talents, as well as those who have overcome their own personal challenges,” Cebulski.
“Service to the community is a huge piece and we do, obviously, have some special consideration given to young people who face financial barriers.”
Cebulski said the program receives wide community support from businesses, service clubs, individual donors, and volunteers.
“It’s a pretty amazing event.”
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