Clarkston Area Youth Assistance will once again sponsor a Youth Recognition Reception to honor more than 130 Clarkston area young people.
The reception will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26 at Clarkston United Methodist Church.
Individuals will receive an award for what organizers call ‘outstanding contribution? to an individual or an organization without compensation for their time. Nominees are selected based on voluntary services only and must reside in the Clarkston Community Schools district.
Each year, CAYA contacts Clarkston area organizations, churches and schools to request nominations of youth whose volunteer service has helped make the Clarkston area a better place to live and grow. Nominees have volunteered in an extraordinary way with personal acts of heroism or community service to hospitals, nursing homes, schools, churches or parks. Many nominees, for example, have dedicated many hours to Clarkston SCAMP.
For a second year, CAYA will present a special award, ‘Youth of the Year.? Nominees are eligible for this award by submitting a short essay about what community volunteerism means to them. The award will be given in three age categories: elementary, middle and high school. All nominees will be presented with a certificate for their volunteer work.
CAYA gives special recognition to these students for acting in a positive way in the face of adversity and for contributing hours of volunteer work without wondering, ‘What’s in it for me?? Organizers said it is a true example of ‘Each One Reach One…Connecting For a Better Community.?
The mission of CAYA is to strengthen youth and families and to reduce incidents of delinquency, abuse and neglect through community involvement.