Youth ages 13 to 24 are invited to apply and winners will be selected in eight U.S. Cities where Lady Gaga’s Joanne The Encore Prize Deadline: May 7 The Encore Prize, offering $100,000 in cash prizes, coaching and a year of ongoing support, is looking for the next generation of programs and products that bring the talent of 50+ adults. About the Youth Awards: The Youth Awards was founded in 1998 by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. Now entering its 22nd year, the Youth Awards honors Latino high school seniors who excel in the classroom and community and for their excellence in various categories including: Business & Finance, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Education, Healthcare & Science, Media &. The Youth Awards was founded in 1998 by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. Now entering its 22nd year, the Youth Awards honors Latino high school seniors who excel in the classroom and community and for their excellence in various categories including: Business & Finances, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Education, Healthcare & Science, Media & Entertainment.
Eligible Entrants: All youth groups, such as 4-H clubs, Scout troops, school groups, and civic service club youth organizations from elementary school through grade 12, are eligible. The association of township officials in the entrant’s county must nominate the group for the award. The county association may initiate the nomination or the youth group may ask to be nominated.
Youth of the Month
Youth of the Month is a recognition program that focuses on acknowledging and making Club members aware of their own leadership abilities. Youth of the Month is a Club-driven experience that fosters leadership within the Club. Unlike many BGCA programs, which are implemented in two or three months of dedicated time, Youth of the Month is most commonly run on an ongoing basis over the course of a year. Youth of the Month is primarily a recognition program, but engaging in various leadership experiences is an important part of the program. Clubs have a great deal of flexibility in how they implement Youth of the Month, so specific activities and experiences may vary, but the focus is always on making Club youth aware of leadership abilities they might not think they possesses and cultivating them so that they learn what it means to be a leader.
Junior Youth of the Year
Distinct from the National Youth of the Year program, Junior Youth of the Year seeks to develop junior leaders ages 10-13 within the Club environment. The program fosters Club members’ emerging leadership abilities while preparing them for later participation in the Youth of the Year program. In addition to recognizing the leadership achievements of Club youth, Junior Youth of the Year also cultivates their leadership potential, providing the foundation they need for advanced leadership development, academic excellence and postsecondary success. Through this program, Club youth become motivated to seek opportunities for leadership and to act as responsible citizens and change agents.
National Youth of the Year
Each year, one exceptional Club member is selected to be the National Youth of the Year, serving as an ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth as well as a voice for all of our nation’s young people. Over the decades, these individuals have exemplified the Boys & Girls Club mission and are proof to the impact Clubs make in transforming and saving kids’ lives. National Youth of the Year winners have achieved success in a variety of industries, including entertainment, politics, business and sports.
Becoming National Youth of the Year is an exciting and inspiring journey. Each year, thousands of Club teens participate in local, state and regional Youth of the Year events. Six teens, including five regional winners and a national military youth winner, advance to Washington, D.C., for the National Youth of the Year Gala & Celebration Dinner, where one outstanding young person is named Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s national teen spokesperson. The National Youth of the Year is a role model, leader and advocate for the nearly 4 million youth served by Boys & Girls Clubs each year, and all of America’s young people.
Each year the American Library Association (ALA) honors books, videos, and other outstanding materials for children and teens. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, the ALA Youth Media Awards, including the prestigious Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Coretta Scott King Book Awards, guide parents, educators, librarians, and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by committees composed of librarians and other literature and media experts, the awards encourage original and creative work in the field of children’s and young adult literature and media.
The 2021 Youth Media Award announcements will take place on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, at 8 a.m. CT during the ALA Midwinter Meeting and Exhibits virtual conference. Libraries, schools, and book lovers worldwide are welcome to follow results by visiting ALA’s streaming platform at http://ala.unikron.com, or ALA’s social media channels, including Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter, by following hashtag #alayma.
ALA also will announce Affiliate Awards Including the Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature and Sydney Taylor Book Award.
Photo from YMA 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jan. 27, 2020.
Press Releases
ALA Youth Media Awards webcast open to schools, libraries, and public
Youth Media Awards include:
Additional Affiliate Awards Include:
American Indian Youth Literature Award (Next announcement January 2022)
Past winners
Media Contacts
Macey Morales
Deputy Director, Communications and Marketing Office (CMO)
312-280-4393 mmorales@ala.org
Additional Youth Awards Award
Youth Awards For The Community
Steve Zalusky
Communications Specialist, Communications and Marketing Office (CMO)
312-280-1546 cmomedia@ala.org