They are out there and the community appreciates them. However, they don’t always get the recognition they deserve.
They would be the youth of Okotoks and surrounding area and they will get some much deserved recognition with the 25th annual Leaders of Tomorrow Awards.
Pamela McLean, executive director for the Okotoks Food Bank, will don her Okotoks Rotary Club hat as she has the task of selecting the winners from the nominations.
“They are a tremendous part of our community,” McLean said. “I am looking forward to reading the applications (for the Leaders of Tomorrow awards) but it is really hard to judge them.
“To make a choice — I hope it is glaringly obvious.
“But all the efforts are fabulous.”
The Leaders of Tomorrow awards
recognizes outstanding young people who have made exceptional contributions and demonstrate leadership, energy, commitment, character and devotion to helping others.
There are three categories: elementary, junior high and senior high school student divisions.
The criteria are a student that exhibits leadership, dedication and excellence in any field of volunteer work including school, community, athletics and fine art and inspires the spirit of volunteerism in others.
Jana Giger, volunteer administrator with the Town of Okotoks and part of the planning committee with the awards, is pumped about the event.
“I am super-excited,” Giger said. “It’s a great opportunity to recognize the volunteers in our amazing community.”
Volunteering is also an opportunity for the youth.
“It gives them different opportunities to learn about things through volunteering,” Giger said. “It opens up a lot of doors when they have volunteering on their resume.”
McLean has seen first-hand the efforts that youth put in. The food bank has received truckloads of foods from hockey teams, school groups, even birthday days as a result of efforts from youth.
“We have so many children who ask for donations to the food bank rather than birthday presents for themselves,” McLean said. “I really hope their parents are nominating their children for doing things like this — in my eyes all of that qualifies.”
McLean volunteered as youth — holding parties to donate to the Jerry Lewis Telethon — but she admits not to the extent of the youth of today.
She said she plans to expand volunteer opportunities at the food bank for youth in the future.
“I would like to get tasks in place where we could accommodate youths are 12 to 15 and that is a goal of mine,” she said.
There is also a Heart of Okotoks Award which recognizes individuals, families, groups and businesses who demonstrate leadership, passion and commitment toward creating a healthy and vibrant community, and who serve as inspiration to others.
The Heart of Okotoks Award is ran by the town.
The nomination forms are available at www.okotoks.ca. Nominations can be submitted by individuals, community groups, churches, schools and voluntary organizations.
The finalists and the winners will be announced at a Leaders of Tomorrow banquet on April 22.
The deadline for nominations is Feb. 28.
