Georgia Afterschool & Youth Development Awards

The Georgia Afterschool & Youth Development Awards honor outstanding professionals, programs, and youth and recognize honorees for their efforts and excellence in the afterschool and youth development field.

The 2024 Georgia ASYD Award Finalists were selected by an independent panel of judges. The top finalists from each award category were notified of their status by July 12, 2024, and all honorees and award recipients were announced at the Georgia ASYD Conference on September 11-13, 2024, in Columbus, GA.

By submitting a nomination, participating organizations and individuals grant the Georgia Afterschool & Youth Development Initiative permission to use any of the submitted application materials, not protected by copyright, in advertisements or promotions, which may include internet/social media announcements of the 2024 Georgia Afterschool & Youth Development Conference, as well as print materials distributed at or in promotion of the event.

Nominations were accepted through June 14, 2024, for these awards:

• • Excellence Award – Recognizing an outstanding afterschool or youth development organization
  • Leadership Award – Recognizing an outstanding afterschool or youth development professional
  • Rising Stars Award – Recognizing outstanding youth (ages 11 to 21) who have been active leaders in their afterschool or youth development programs

EXCELLENCE AWARD

An outstanding afterschool or youth development program that meets the highest standards of quality in the field and demonstrates capacity to meet the needs of children, youth and families in their community may be nominated for this award.

Afterschool or youth development organizations, departments and individual program sites which have operated for at least two years are eligible for the Excellence Award. The program can be public, private, faith-based, based in a school, neighborhood location, community center, library, museum, institution of higher learning, or military base. Anyone, including program staff, may nominate a program.

Congratulations to our 2024 Excellence Award Winner, Camp Twin Lakes!

LEADERSHIP AWARD

An outstanding afterschool or youth development professional that demonstrates an understanding of the critical value of high-quality afterschool and youth development programs and exemplifies excellence in meeting the highest standards of quality and meeting the needs of children, youth and families in their community may be nominated for this award.

Afterschool and youth development professionals including executive directors, site directors, supervisors, coordinators and others who have at least five years of experience in the afterschool and youth development field are eligible for the Leadership Award. The individuals nominated should have contributed significantly to their program, their community and the field of afterschool and youth development.

Congratulations to our 2024 Leadership Award Winner, Yolanda Partridge (Program Supervisor at Gwinnett County Government).

RISING STARS AWARD

An outstanding afterschool or youth development program participant that exemplifies excellence in leadership and program and community engagement may be nominated for this award.

Youth ages 11 to 21 who have some connection as a program participant to a Georgia afterschool or youth development program are eligible for the Rising Stars Award. The individuals nominated should have contributed significantly to their program and their community and demonstrated positive leadership and decision making skills.

Congratulations to our 2024 Rising Stars Award Winners, Elias Dennis (Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta), Milana Miller (GUIDE, Inc. Youth Advisory Board), and Zoe Boudrey (Jared’s Heart of Success)!