Chase Awards Honor Teens Who Stand Out

If you’re like most people, you probably have a calendar in your room, and on that calendar you’ve probably marked all the important days of the year. You know, those really life-changing and momentous events like, for instance, your birthday, or the last day of school.

There’s also a good chance that you’ve already marked down the biggest one of all. You know, that event you’ve all been waiting for: The Chase Youth Awards night.

Then again, you probably have no idea what I am talking about. Every year, more than 800 Spokane-area youth are nominated for a Chase Youth Award. Awards are given out in nine categories: Citizenship, Community Service, Courage, Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Concern, Leadership, Personal Achievement, and “The Spirit of Jim Chase” Group Award.

You don’t have to be Mother Teresa to be nominated. You only have to be in grades K-12 and done something that might qualify you for one of the above awards. Each nominee will be invited to the Opera House to attend the Chase Youth Awards ceremony on March 28, and those who end up receiving the individual awards will get a $100 savings bond (which probably won’t mature until you’re 35, but after all, it is money).

The purpose of the Chase Youth Awards is to recognize those rebels who live on the unselfish side. Maybe you can figure out somebody to nominate, and maybe you can even ask somebody to nominate you.

Just being nominated is an honor and the sheer volume of nominations is evidence that our generation is not, as some people say, going to hell in a handbasket.

If you’d like to pick up a nomination form, just ask a school official or drop by the local library. Those with questions can call the Chase Youth Commission at 625-6440.