Application for the 23rd Annual Awards
for Youth in Foster Care |
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$11,000 in prizes for 10 winners
Youth Communication sponsors this award to illuminate the strengths of New York City foster youth among agency staff, youth workers, and the general public. Ten young people will be awarded prize money at a ceremony in fall 2021, ideally in person. The prize money can be spent however the winner likes, although it is recommended that it be spent on education-related activities.
GENERAL RULES:
Who Can Nominate a Young Person: Entrants can be nominated by any adult (including
teachers, mentors, agency staff, youth workers, religious
leaders, foster parents, biological parents).
The adult must write a letter of recommendation for
the young person. Adults should nominate young
people who have shown resilience, helped others,
and achieved personal and academic success.
Each nominator may nominate one young person.
Who Is Eligible to Be Nominated: Any current
or former foster youth in the New York City
foster care system who was born in 2000 or later.
People born before 2000 are not eligible.
Winners from 2019 and 2020 and Grand Prize winners from 2018 or earlier are not eligible.
How the winners will be selected: A
judging committee will read all entries and choose
the winners. The decision of the judges is final.
You must write two essays. The first essay must be
fewer than 1,000 words. The second essay must be
fewer than 500 words. If your essays are too long it
will count against you. (A very short essay won't win either.)
Essay #1: Share a struggle you faced during the pandemic that you had some success in overcoming. Describe your process, including any help you got or gave as you figured out how to adjust and cope. What did you learn about yourself and the people around you? And finally, as we return to normal, how can you adapt what you've learned to non-pandemic life?
Essay #2: Describe a time when you did something that
you felt made a positive impact on someone else. Why was it
important to the person you helped? To you? (This can include
helping siblings, volunteering, or any other time when you went out of
your way to help someone else.)
Hint: A good essay will include a detailed description of your experience and, most important,
reflection on how the experience changed your thinking or inspired you.
Deadline: May 15, 2021
Your complete entry, including the entry form, two essays, and adult
recommendation letter, must be submitted by May 15, 2021
Apply through this form here
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$11,000 in prizes for 10 winners: Nominate a teen
Summer Writing Workshop: Apply Today!
Teens Write About Life In the Pandemic
LESSON PLANS
FROM THE AUTHOR