BROOKINGS – The Brookings Human Rights Commission is now accepting nominations for the Youth Award and the Youth Ally Award. 

Youth Award

The Youth Award is presented by the commission to an individual or group of local youth that promote and/or contribute to human rights in the Brookings area and abroad. Activities the commission is aware of that would be worthy of a Youth Award include, but are not limited to:

• Collecting money for a human rights related organization/cause,

• Organizing a human rights related activity, and

• Collecting food/clothing/personal hygiene items for local or national organizations.

Since the Human Rights Commission hopes to recognize the creativity and uniqueness of our youth, it asks students not be nominated for participation in class activities or pre-organized events. However, any additional activity that comes as a result of a class activity or pre-organized event would be a welcome nomination. To keep awards timely, the commission also asks that nominations be limited to events that have occurred since June 2021. 

For those who are nominating youth for participation in connection with a service agency, a letter on agency letterhead, dated and signed by the director, must accompany the nomination form.

Youth Ally Award

The Brookings Human Rights Commission Youth Ally Award recognizes an adult who has inspired local youth to become involved in human rights activities and initiatives, either locally or abroad.  

Some examples would be serving as a mentor or providing financial support to a youth human rights project. The Youth Ally Award is an award where someone in the community nominates an adult for special recognition.

For both awards 

This is a great opportunity to showcase youth along with their allies, and the commission does not want to see nominees who are unable to be recognized due to no fault of their own. In reviewing the nomination form, note two important things:

• Parent and/or guardian contact information is required for all Youth Awards. It is necessary for the commission to send notice to the youth and their parent/guardian. Nominations that do not supply this information will be considered incomplete and sent back to the nominator as such.

• Late applications will not be accepted. Nominations received after the deadline will be considered for the 2022 Youth Awards. Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 7. 

All nominations will be considered and reviewed by the Brookings Human Rights Commission. When the final selection for the 2022 Youth Award and Youth Ally Award recipients have been made, the commission will notify the recipients and the public. 

To obtain a nomination application, go to www.cityofbrookings.org or contact the Brookings Human Resources Office at:

Brookings City & County Government Center, 520 Third St., Suite 230, Brookings, SD 57006;  605-697-8668; or cbell@cityofbrookings-sd.gov.