Announcement
During the 2023-2024 school year, the Rotary Club of Detroit will honor Detroit high school seniors as follows:
-
5 - Awards for outstanding community service.
-
1 - Ambassador for Equity and Justice Award
-
1 – Youth Citizen of the Year Award - One out of the above six honorees will receive this honor.
Each of the six Youth Citizen honorees will win a cash prize of $2,500; the Youth Citizen of the Year will win an additional $3,000 award.
Eligibility Criteria for the Equity and Justice Award:
-
Residency and Education:
-
Candidates must be high school seniors residing and attending a public, private, or charter school in Detroit, Hamtramck, or Highland Park.
-
They should be planning to pursue post-secondary education.
-
-
Primary Criterion:
-
The foremost consideration is the candidate's record of service. This includes contributions to their school, family, and community through both structured and unstructured activities, with an emphasis on the amount and frequency of service.
-
-
Secondary Criterion:
-
Leadership experience is the second key factor. Candidates must demonstrate a history of leading by example in various capacities.
-
-
Tertiary Criteria:
-
These include academic achievements, recognition in the form of honors and awards, and evidence of exemplary character.
-
-
Special Requirement for the Equity and Justice Award:
-
Candidates must have actively taken steps to empower, educate, and engage others in peacebuilding and awareness activities related to equality and justice. A significant effort to foster cultural understanding and bridge gaps is essential.
-
Selection Process
Applications for the Rotary Youth Citizen Service Award (RYCSA) are available online at the bottom of this page.
Requirements
-
The online application must be filled out and submitted by Midnight April 30th, 2024.
-
A copy of your transcript, including the 2023-2024 academic year to date, must be included (uploaded) with the application.
-
A signed copy of the Media Consent form must be uploaded (Download Here)
-
A signed copy of the Detroit Public School’s Media Consent form must be uploaded with the application.(Download Here)
-
You must prepare and upload a 60-second video with the following content stating your:
-
Full Name
-
High School
-
Favorite Service Project and Why it is Your Favorite
This video, all or in part, will be used for various purposes including viewing by the selection committee, attendees at the YCSA United-In-Service Day and Club members and friends. It may also be used, all or in part, in various media postings. Your consent is covered by the Media Consent form.
The Detroit Rotary Youth Citizen Service Award Committee will review all submitted applications, decide which candidates will progress in the competition, and inform all candidates and their designated parent or guardian of their competition status by Thursday, May 16, 2024.
RYCSA committee members will schedule mandatory face-to-face interviews via Zoom for all finalists.
Award Ceremony
Award presentations will be made in the spring at regular Rotary meetings held at noon on Wednesdays. More specific details will be provided prior to the award ceremony, as appropriate.
Helpful Inform
Familiarity with the mission and work of Rotary will be helpful to applicants. We encourage candidates to acquaint themselves with Rotary prior to completing their application by visiting the following:
-
The Rotary Club of Detroit https://www.detroitrotary.org,
-
Rotary International https://www.rotary.org,
-
Facebook-The Rotary Club of Detroit https://www.facebook.com/detroitrotary,
You may also be interested in following the Wayne State University Rotaract, which is a very active club of undergraduate and graduate students who participate in fun and challenging service activities. Facebook – WSU Rotaract
For more information about RYCSA, please contact RYCSA: YouthCitizenAward@gmail.com