Jackson EMC : Your Community : Youth & Education : Youth Citizenship Award

Youth Citizenship Award

: Heather Styles, 2009 Youth Citizenship Award winner at Good News Clinc.

Jackson EMC's Youth Citizenship Award recognizes a student whose dedication improves the community through volunteerism.

Student volunteers give valuable time to make the lives of others better, and though volunteering often goes unnoticed, there is no more satisfying way to spend one's time. It is important for all citizens to recognize our community volunteers, thank them and learn from them.

The winner of this prestigious award will be one of Jackson EMC's two delegates to the Washington Youth Tour, an event that provides more than 1,500 students from across the United States with the experience of a lifetime.

Along with an all-expense paid trip to our nation's capital, the winning student receives a $2,000 scholarship to the college, university or technical school of his or her choice. The student will also win a $1,000 grant to be distributed to the school or civic organization of his or her choice.

Youth Citizenship Award

The 2009 Youth Citizenship Award Winner and Finalists

Clockwise from top left: John Dial, Daniel
Tilden, Hope Wooster, Christy Lyles,
Heather Styles

The results of the 2009 Youth Citizenship Award have been announced. We're pleased to present this year's winner and four finalists:

Winner - Heather Styles, Lakeview Academy
Runner-up - Christy Lyles, Grayson HS
Finalist - Hope Wooster, Greater Atlanta Christian School
Finalist - Daniel Tilden, Heritage Academy
Finalist - John Dial, Madison County

Styles performed over 3,200 hours of community service during her high school years. Some of her volunteer activities include organizing the renovations of a men’s homeless shelter through the Cyworld Community Grant Challenge project; coordinating community events and projects through Student Government and Key Club; mentoring children through Kid Jam, Mission Friends and Vacation Bible School; and volunteering at Challenged Child & Friends, just to name some of the organizations and activities that Heather has served.

Congratulations to this year's winner and finalists and thank you to everyone who entered this year.

How to Enter

The application period for the 2010 Youth Citizenship Award has ended. For more information, please contact Kay Parks at kparks@jacksonemc.com.

Requirements for Participation

Have a minimum 2.5 GPA
Include a letter of recommendation from a club/organization sponsor where you have volunteered
Be a junior or senior in high school and 16 years old.
Student cannot be taking college classes in summer of current year.
Students interested in the Governor's Honors Program may have a schedule conflict with the Washington Youth Tour.
Attend a high school in Jackson EMC's service territory. (Student does not have to be a member.)

Jackson EMC employees will review all applications, and a panel of community volunteers and employees will then interview five finalists to determine the winner.

Students may volunteer in the community via a school organization or civic organization, but bettering the community must be a key part of the activity.