National Youth of the Year Award
The National Youth of the Year Award provides the National Exchange Club with the opportunity to honor outstanding students who have exhibited excellence in academics and leadership. It is the culmination of an effort by hundreds of Exchange Clubs across the country to identify and recognize the young leaders of our nation. The recipient serves as a role model to his or her peers, by exhibiting exceptional scholastic achievement, respect for self and others, and ambitious career goals. Our National Youth of the Year recipients have illustrated that the diligent pursuit of higher ideals truly brings rewards.
The process for selecting the National Youth of the Year begins at the club level. Exchange Clubs provide a monthly recognition of outstanding youth in their communities. Each club selects a Youth of the Year and forwards an application for district judging. District honorees are judged at the national level for the final selection of the prestigious National Youth of the Year.
The National Youth of the Year receives a $10,000 scholarship and the opportunity to address hundreds of Exchangites at the National Youth Recognition Luncheon. In addition, the recipients winning essay is featured in Exchange Today magazine.
The National Youth of the Year program begins at the club level. For questions, contact your high school guidance counselor or your local Exchange Club.
National Youth of the Year Award Recipients
- 1973 Helen A. Meredith, Burlington, North Carolina
- 1974 John Blebea, Alliance, Ohio
- 1975 Marc Irwin Teren, San Jose, California
- 1976 David H. Daniel, Pulaski, Tennessee
- 1977 Elisa Beth Wolfe, Modesto, California
- 1978 Melody Mosley, Nashville, Tennessee
- 1979 Melissa Anne Bradley, Mansfield, Ohio
- 1980 Carolyn Reiser, Jacksonville, Florida
- 1981 Robert Raben, North Miami Beach, Florida
- 1982 Charles F. Knapp, Mason City, Iowa
- 1983 Daniel B. Murrey, Pulaski, Tennessee
- 1984 Jacob D. Hill, Columbia, South Carolina
- 1985 Francis K. Beadle, Bakersfield, California
- 1986 Erich P. Horn, Micanopy, Florida
- 1987 Laura Anne Menninger, Macon, Georgia
- 1988 James H. Stilwell, Houston, Texas
- 1989 Kourosh Adyani, Anaheim, California
- 1990 Michael Alan Rotar, Oroville, California
- 1991 Sohail F. Tavazoie, Sandy, Utah
- 1992 Catherine Wentz Clapp, Dallas, Texas
- 1993 Kayren Jamelle Shoffner, Hampton, Virginia
- 1994 Eden Rauch, Branchburg, New Jersey
- 1995 Mark Ellis, Martinsville, New Jersey
- 1996 Lisa Giuli, Salt Lake City, Utah
- 1997 Paul Leonardi, San Leandro, California
- 1998 Michelle Chang, Sugar Land, Texas
- 1999 Meredith Johnson, Lynchburg, Virginia
- 2000 Hillary Anne Underwood, Augusta, Georgia
- 2001 Roni Pomerantz, Fresno, California
- 2002 Larry OMalley, Collierville, Tennesee
- 2003 Brittany Adkins, Brentwood, Tennessee
- 2004 Lauren Krainski, Fairview, Pennsylvania
- 2005 Kathryn Lewis Dambrino, Grenada, Mississippi
- 2006 Lauren Hartman, Poquoson, Virginia
- 2007 Callie Miller, Auburn, California
- 2008 Selena Farnesi, Fresno, California
- 2009 Julia Burd
- 2010 Tawney Hughes
- 2011 Austin Javellana
- 2012 Anisa Mughal
National A.C.E. of the Year Award
The A.C.E. awards honor students that have overcome great obstacles in their lives, such as mental, physical, emotional or social challenges, and go on to High School.
National A.C.E. of the Year Award Recipients
- 2000 Magdelena Salcedo, Salt Lake City, Utah
- 2001 Jacquelyn Wax, Moraine, Ohio
- 2002 Latasha D. Bodet, Grenada, Mississippi
- 2003 Sarah Brown, Dayton, Ohio
- 2004 Sierra Simmons, St. Petersburg, Florida
- 2005 Tyrone Evans Clark, Benton Harbor, Michigan
- 2006 Kirsten Young, Murray, Utah
- 2007 Kaeley Kays, Charleston, South Carolina
- 2008 Gremako and Tremako Hopson, Downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- 2009 Je'Vour Taylor
- 2010 Javier Cardenas
- 2011 Tori Dahl
- 2012 Fortune Kalala