Community Leadership Awards

Join us as we celebrate Youth Link’s 33rd Annual Community Leadership Awards event in May! This annual, citywide event celebrates Bellevue young people who contribute through leadership, community service, advocacy, diversity and social justice support.

We ask your help. Please nominate a youth or student in Bellevue by completing the form below. We encourage school and program staff, community members, parents and other adults to submit a nomination. Youth can also nominate other youth. Nominations will be open until Friday, May 5, 2023.

Youth Link will host the awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 6-8 p.m. at Bellevue City Hall. For more information, please contact Bellevue Youth Link via email (youthlink@bellevuewa.gov) or call 425-452-2846.

Event registration required due to limited spaces.

Event Registration

Nominator’s Information

Your Name

School/Organization

Address

City

State

ZIP

Phone Number

Relationship to Nominee

Email

Please answer the following questions

1. Can you cite specific examples of how your nominee fits the category you have selected?

2. How long have you known the nominee and what is your relationship to them?

3. How has the nominee impacted your life or the life of others?

Award Nomination Categories & Description

Community Awards

1. Advocacy for Cultural & Heritage Pride

A person who understands the value of their own culture and heritage; and/or who celebrates and advocates for the culture and heritage of other students.

2. Advocacy for Social Justice (2 awards – Individual and Group)

A change agent who understands the value of social change through involvement and social justice work in school and community.

3. Advocacy for Education

A person who works to address educational barriers; creates a supportive learning environment through service, perhaps by tutoring other underserved students and/or advocating for the importance of equity in education.

4. Advocacy for Family Support

A person who works to support the needs of their family sometimes before their own need; support comes in many forms as complex as helping their family navigate and find resources, to choosing to stay home after school and help watch their younger siblings, to seeking employment in order to assist with family needs.

5. Advocacy for Well Being

A person who values the importance of mental health, addiction support, and well-being of themselves and others; whether it’s making positive health choices or educating others about mental health issues or advocating for access to resources for their peers.

6. Advocacy in Sports & Recreation

A person who works to address barriers in sports and recreation; creates a supportive environment through service, perhaps by coaching other underserved athletes and/or advocating for the importance of equity in sports and recreation.

7. Environmental Champion

A person who is a constant advocate for helping protect and take care of our environment; a steward who helps inform, educate, and move others to take action.

8. Excellence in Youth Arts

A person who values the importance of self-expression, artistry, and creativity through any form of art; encourages others to explore their own form of expression and celebration whether through canvass, spoken words, or dance.

9. Outstanding Inclusivity & Allyship

A person who understands the importance of supporting a marginalized group and ensuring that others are not left behind.

10. Outstanding Creative & Innovative Thinker

A person who finds ways to creatively think and live outside the box by always trying to find a creative solution to a problem; a futurist who sees opportunity rather than barriers.

11. Outstanding Elementary School Student

A person who exemplifies ideal qualities of an elementary school student aside from academics or other accomplishments from school rigor; a student who is selfless, supportive, and a natural life learner.

12. Outstanding Middle School Student

A person who exemplifies ideal qualities of a middle school student aside from academics or other accomplishments from school rigor; a student who is selfless, supportive, and natural life learner.

13. Outstanding High School Student

A person who exemplifies ideal qualities of a high school student aside from academics or other accomplishments from school rigor; a student who is selfless, supportive, and natural life learner.

14. Outstanding Youth Volunteer

A person who shares their time and talent in service and support of others in need without recognition of their work; encourages others to give of themselves.

15. Unsung Hero

A person who has quietly supported other people without being asked for help or receiving personal recognition, who has performed a small deed to help others with their great heart.

Youth Link Program Awards

1. Norm Maleng Social Justice Award

A person in the Youth Link Program who exemplifies the value of restorative and social justice work both in the program and in community.

2. Bellevue Youth Council “MVP” Award

Nominated and voted by Bellevue Youth Council members, the “Most Valuable Player” award is given to a BYC member(s) who exemplifies the value of the program through their active leadership and example.

3. Phil Kushlan Youth Award

Youth award given by the City of Bellevue to a graduating Youth Link program senior who exemplifies the value of the program.