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🌟 Celebrating Delaware’s Young Changemakers

The Governor’s Youth Volunteer Service Awards recognize outstanding young Delawareans (ages 17 and under) who are making a meaningful difference in their communities through service, leadership, and innovation.

These awards honor students who are leading with compassion, creating positive change, and setting an inspiring example for their peers.

      🏆 Award Categories

      🔹 Youth Individual Award
      Recognizes a young person who has demonstrated a strong, personal commitment to volunteer service through sustained, hands-on efforts that address community needs.
      🔹 Youth Group/Team Award (2 or more students)
      Honors a team of youth volunteers who have made a collective impact through a service project, ongoing initiative or collaboration that has improved their community.
      🔹 Youth Leadership Award
      Celebrates a student who has taken initiative, inspired others to serve, and shown leadership in launching or expanding a volunteer effort.
      🔹 Young Environmentalist Stewardship Award
      Acknowledges a youth volunteer whose project or ongoing service demonstrates a commitment to environmental awareness, sustainability, or conservation in Delaware.

      📋 Guidelines

      • Nominees must be 17 years of age or younger as of January 10, 2026.
      • All volunteer service must take place in Delaware and be unpaid.
      • Nominees must have completed a minimum of 100 hours of volunteer service during the 12 months prior to the nomination deadline.
      • Nominations must be submitted by someone other than the nominee. Acceptable nominators include teachers, mentors, volunteer supervisors, nonprofit staff, or community members.
      • Previous winners must wait three years before being re-nominated.
      • Activities focused solely on partisan politics, religious practice, or benefiting an organization’s own membership are not eligible.

      🗓️ Nomination Timeline

      • Nominations Open: November 1, 2025
      • Nominations Close: January 10, 2026
      • Awards Ceremony: Thursday, May 7, 2026

      🎉 Recognition

      Youth honorees will:

      • Be recognized at a statewide ceremony hosted by the Governor
      • Receive a personalized award trophy
      • Be featured in statewide press and on Volunteer Delaware’s social media

      🔗 Submit a Nomination

      [Link to Online Nomination Form]
      Questions? Contact Diane.Frebert@delaware.gov

      🎉 Congratulations to the 2025 Governor's Volunteer Service Youth Honorees!

      Your outstanding dedication to service, leadership, and community impact inspires positive change and exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism in Delaware.

      We proudly celebrate your achievements and thank you for making a difference!

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