The Chicago Park District directed the spotlight on teens who demonstrated dedication to their communities and parks during the 70th annual Junior Citizens Awards, held at the South Shore Cultural Center.
Attending the event, according to a park district news release, were Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Rosa Escareño, speaker Ashley-Lauren Ehimwenman, marketing director for BOWA Construction and Founder of BOWA Gives and this year’s leading nominees.
“It is an honor and privilege to celebrate the achievements of this year’s Junior Citizens finalists, an elite class of future leaders who are making a positive difference in their parks, communities and our city,” Escareño said in the news release. “The Park District has a long history of providing resources and opportunities that instill in our youth the importance of active, healthy living and civic engagement. We commend our young people for using these experiences as building blocks to give back to their communities and being an example and inspiration to us all.”
According to the district’s news release, the event named first-, second- and third-place winners for each region from this year’s 24 finalists. Scholarships were awarded, with $1,000 for first place, $600 for second place and $400 for third place, according to the park district, and the remaining finalists received $50 gift cards from BOWA Gives.
The park district noted that the Junior Citizens program was created in 1953 to recognize the efforts of young leaders in the city, and encourage their efforts, and it has evolved into a prestigious honor with a stringent process for selecting its honorees.
In the release, the district noted it accepts nominations from educators, elected officials, park staff and other key stakeholders and finalists are selected from local parks and they are reviewed by a panel of judges who review their contributions to the community, their values, character and academic plans.
Nominees must be high school juniors or seniors with at least a “C” grade average to be considered, according to the release.