Youth Appreciation

• Youth Appreciation -- monthly recognition of local youths' achievements in a variety of categories:

  • Most Involved in Fine Arts
    This category broadly encompasses:

    • Stage or Theatre Arts, from set decoration and lighting to acting (and everything in between)

    • Music, both choral and instrumental

    • Visual Arts, painting, photography, drawing, sculpture, etc.

    • Dance of all kinds

    • Literary Arts such as poetry and creative writing

    The student most involved in this category should be a well-rounded individual, participating in one or more of the areas described.  The qualities for which we are looking are participation and diversity, more than one skill performed excellently.  Of course, performing several skills excellently is always a special treat.

     

  • Most Improved in Music
    This is strictly a musical category, choral or instrumental or both.  The important quality to be considered is progress.  The "D" student who becomes an "A" student is by definition more improved than the "B" to an "A" student.  Look for those dedicated students whose commitment and hard work has resulted not only in significant improvements in their own individual musical talents but also in their contributions to the musical group or groups that they are members of.

   

  • Most Involved in Vocational Technology
    Formerly named "Industrial Arts," it seems more appropriate to refer to this category as "Vocational Technology" due to the number of areas to be considered.  In addition to areas such as wood working, carpentry, and automotive repair, most schools offer classes in areas such as graphic arts, CAD programs, and desktop publishing.  In addition, this category would include word processing.  The honored student in this category will be the unofficial "Instructor's Assistant" -- the student to whom others go for assistance if the instructor is occupied.  He or she is the student who is there before/after class, on days off, who assists without being asked.  Bear in mind that the most involved may be someone easily overlooked or taken for granted!

   

  • Most Involved in Community  Affairs
    This category could be thought of as "Citizenship" or "Community Service".  The best examples for this category are past honorees.  We have seen student mentors in elementary schools, students active in student government, or serving on committees in local government, students who have helped mobilize their schools to perform community service, students who regularly volunteer for non-profit organizations in the community.  When choosing the student honoree, look beyond the usual.  Look past the surface.  You may be looking for tomorrow's leader . . . or maybe the good neighbor down the block who commits "random acts of kindness."

   

  • Most Improved in Academics
    This category is really about GPA in all subjects, and it is about a significant turn-around.  We have heard from students that began their high school career with straight "F's" and were on the verge of dropping out of school when something or someone turned them around.  Maybe it was a teacher, or their parents, or a friend, but whatever it was they were able to get it together and their accomplishments are worthy of recognition.  For some, this turn-around was all the way to straight "A's" by their senior year.  For others, it meant going back to school after dropping out for a year or two and completing that high school degree.  It is important to remember that this student may not be on the honor roll.  After all, it may be the student who has gone from an "F" average to a "C" average and is still improving who might be the most deserving candidate.  What makes this category difficult is the very thing that makes it so worthwhile -- finding the student who has probably not received honors or recognition for his or her efforts but who has quietly made this amazing transformation.  It gives us an opportunity to tell the student that what has been done is important and deserving of this honor.

   

  • Youth of the Year
    This category is wide-open.  The student so honored may have been recognized already in one of the previous five categories, or may be someone else who is involved in more than one of them.  Maybe this is a singer who directs student plays and uses the computer class to write scripts and design sets; or the student who struggled hard to learn math and is now mentoring in the grade school while being involved in student government and volunteering in the community.  This one should be fun and challenging!  It should also "feel right" when the choice has been made.