This award is made possible by award sponsors Canvas Credit Union and the Lone Tree Youth Commission.

ELIGIBILITY:
Competition for this award is open to any student who meets the following requirements:
1. The applicant’s legal residence is located within the City of Lone Tree at the time of application.
2. The applicant must be currently enrolled in eighth through twelfth grade.

AWARD FORMAT:
1. One award will be given annually at a presentation to City Council at a regularly scheduled meeting. The award will be presented to a deserving youth currently in eighth through twelfth grade.
2. In the event that there are no qualified applicants, the City of Lone Tree reserves the right to suspend the award cycle for the corresponding year.

AWARD CRITERIA:
The Outstanding Youth of Lone Tree Award will be determined by the Selection Committee based upon the Committee’s determination that the applicant best satisfies the following criteria:
1. The applicant is someone that has demonstrated leadership through community service or other outstanding accomplishments in academics, arts and culture, entrepreneurship, environment, sports and recreation, social action, or personal triumph.
2. The applicant demonstrates the potential to continue to be a leader in positive change in the community.
3. The applicant exhibits strength of character, maturity, integrity, and compassion.

SELECTION PROCESS:
1. The Selection Committee will be comprised of two Lone Tree Youth Commissioners selected by the Youth Commission, one member of the Lone Tree City Council, the Youth Commission’s Staff Liaison, and up to one additional leader in the community who has demonstrated a commitment to the City of Lone Tree.
2. The application acceptance period will open February 12, 2024 and run through March 20, 2024.
3. Applicants will be notified of their status by March 29, 2024. Selected applicants will be invited to an interview with the selection committee.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
To complete the application, the applicant should:
1. Fully answer each question in the online application.
2. The online application will ask for the following information. It is recommended that applicants prepare the information ahead of beginning the application process as applications must be completed in one session.

This includes:
         - Applicant Information (Name, Age, School, Contact Information)
         - Parent/Guardian Information (Name, Address, Phone Number)
         - List of Extracurricular Activities
         - List of Honors & Awards
         - Employment & Volunteer Experience
         - A personal essay of 200-500 words describing in detail how you (or your actions) have had a positive impact on your community. Be sure to include specific examples of your leadership through community service or your accomplishments in academics, arts and culture, entrepreneurship, environment, sports and recreation, social action, or personal triumph as it relates to your application.

3. Applicants must upload PDF (scanned versions are fine) of the applicant's school transcript/report card to the application form.

3. Request at least one recommendation from neighbors, teachers or other people in the applicant's life that can speak to how they fulfill the awards criteria. It cannot be from someone in your immediate household. Applicants should ask their recommenders to fill out the online recommendation form at cityoflonetree.com/youthaward by the March 20 deadline. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that their recommendation forms have been submitted by their recommenders.

4. Applicants can check on the status of their application at any time, including status of recommendation submissions, by emailing Madison Wiseman at madison.wiseman@cityoflonetree.com.

5. Applicants may make changes to their application up until the March 20 deadline. Changes can be made by clicking on the link in the application confirmation email that is sent after first completing the application.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE:

Members of the Selection Committee must disclose any personal relationships, positions they hold (volunteer or otherwise), or circumstances that they believe could contribute to a conflict of interest in determining the recipient of the Outstanding Youth of Lone Tree Award. Full disclosure must be made verbally by all members of the Selection Committee before the annual selection process begins. In the case where a member of the Selection Committee identifies a personal conflict of interest, they will be removed from the Committee and a replacement will fill the position for the current award cycle.

QUESTIONS:

If at any time you have questions about the application process, feel free to reach out to Madison Wiseman at madison.wiseman@cityoflonetree.com.