The City of Phoenix Youth and Education Office is now accepting applications for the 2017 Outstanding Young Man and Young Woman of the Year awards. The Outstanding Young Man and Woman of the Year (OYMYW) honors the outstanding achievements of young people and raises community awareness of the positive effects that youth brings.

The program is open to any student who is currently enrolled in a high school within the Phoenix city limits. One young man and one young woman are selected as winners from each city council district and the winners also earn $2000 as prize money. Every district winner has a chance to win an extra $500 in addition if they are chosen as the city wide winners.

In order to apply, students must write an essay along with a submission of a letter of recommendation and proof of legal residence in the United States. Finalist are then interviewed by the judges of the program including members of the Phoenix Rotary 100 and Soroptimist International of Phoenix.

“This seems like a great way to honor all the amazing and talented students across the state” say Emma Lee, a freshman at Desert Vista.

Although it is a great program that many look forward to applying for there is one very important requirement that stops some from wanting to submit an application for the OYMYW. In the essay, that is part of the required application, you must include how you have been involved in the Phoenix community in detail and write about the impact you have had.

“I would love to apply if I met the requirements but I don’t at the moment. In the future if I do meet those requirements I would absolutely apply because it seems like an amazing opportunity.”