The Orion Area Youth Assistance (OAYA) seeks nominations for their 26th annual Youth Recognition Awards Ceremony.

The awards pay special tribute to outstanding youth in the community who have volunteered their time in the past year.

This year, the OAYA has added a Personal Achievement Award category, in addition to the Community Service Awards.

The awards ceremony begins at 6 p.m. May 16 in the Lake Orion High School Performing Arts Center. All nominations must be received by March 22.

Those nominated for the Community Service Award will have a passion for volunteering and have exceeded expectations in volunteering at school, church, community events, assisting senior citizens or persons with disabilities, or leading or organizing extracurricular activities, according to OAYA criteria.

Paid services and high school community service requirements are not eligible toward the nominations.

The Personal Achievement Award is for youth who have “demonstrated a dramatic positive change in attitude or behavior, overcome a significant obstacle (health, family situation, etc.) or have made a strong, positive academic turnaround,” according to OAYA Youth Recognition Committee guidelines.

“Also, if you have any photos of your nominee hard at work, please feel free to forward those as well; we would like to incorporate them into our presentation,” said Stella Britt, Youth Recognition Committee member.

For 2019 Youth Recognition nominating forms, contact the Orion Area Youth Assistance office at 248-693-6878, or request by e-mailing oaya@lok12.org.

Forms can also be downloaded from the OAYA website: www.lakeorionyouth

assistance.com.

Return forms by email, faxing to 248-693-1494 or mailing to Orion Area Youth Assistance, CERC Building, 455 E. Scripps Rd., Lake Orion, MI 48360. – J.N.