Good kids wanted.
Nominations are now being accepted for young heroes, scholars, and extraordinary volunteers to be honored by the Brandon Groveland Youth Assistance.
‘We want to reward good students for their hard work in making our community better,? said Fran Hotchkiss, Brandon Groveland Youth Assistance Recognition Award chairperson. ‘We always hear about bad kids, but I think we need to concentrate on the good. Youth recognition lets deserving youth know what a positive difference they are making in our community.?
BGYA hosts the 26th annual Youth Recognition Night April 25. The event honors school-aged youth residing within the Brandon School District boundaries. Students can be nominated in one of several categories, including:
nExceptional service to others–superior service and extensive volunteerism, displaying genuine concern for others;
nAchievement by an individual who has overcome personal challenges and/or set an example for others. Included may be changes from negative to positive attitudes and behavior, actions displaying great achievements in personal growth or social development; or overcoming significant personal difficulties.
nHeroism/outstanding humanitarian act. An act of self-sacrifice, demonstrating unusual courage and/or an act reflecting great concern for the welfare of another. Displaying considerable social awareness for a person of the youth’s developmental age.
nExceptional service by an individual within a club or organization. Superior service and extensive volunteerism well beyond the norms of time, energies and tasks of the other group members and/or the youth’s developmental age. Giving of oneself without consideration of self-gain, election to office and/or social merit.
Last year, BGYA honored 156 students during Youth Recognition Night, for good deeds that included helping senior citizens with yard cleanup, donating their hair to the organization ‘Locks of Love,? raising funds for non-profit organizations, work on mission trips, and various other volunteer activities.
‘The volunteers are enthusiastic, hard-working and dedicated and it’s important to encourage these positive actions,? said Hotchkiss.
Youth Recognition Night features a guest speaker and local dignitaries attend. Persons who have nominated youth are also encouraged to attend. The theme for this year’s event is, ‘You take the cake.?
The deadline for youth nominations is March 22. Nomination forms can be obtained at the Brandon Township Library, 304 South St., Ortonville. Nominees are selected on the basis of voluntary services and/or exceptional personal efforts within the past year and selections by the Youth Recognition Committee are final. For more information, contact Fran Hotchkiss at 248-627-1462 or Gail Innis at 248-627-6445.