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 2023 Georgia ASYD Award finalists will be selected by an independent panel of judges. All award recipients will be announced during the 2023 Georgia ASYD Awards and Professional Learning Summit held on Friday, October 27, 2023, at Middle Georgia State University in Macon, Georgia.
If you would like to nominate an organization or individual for an award, please complete and submit the online nomination form. Upon submission of the form, the nominee will be notified and given the opportunity to submit an application. While nominations are welcomed, organizations and individuals may self-nominate by submitting an application form directly.
Nominations will be accepted through June 16, 2023, and applications will be accepted through June 30, 2023, for the following awards:
- Excellence Award – Recognizing outstanding afterschool or youth development programs
- STEAM Innovation Award – Recognizing innovative STEAM afterschool or youth development programs
- Leadership Award – Recognizing outstanding afterschool or youth development professionals
- Rising Stars Award – Recognizing outstanding youth (ages 11 to 21) who have been active leaders in their afterschool or youth development programs
By submitting an application, 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 2023 Georgia Afterschool & Youth Development Awards, as well as print materials distributed at or in promotion of the event.
**To help you prepare for submitting an application, please review the questions for each award type.**
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 2022 Excellence Award Winner, Agape Youth & Family Center!
STEAM INNOVATION AWARD
An outstanding afterschool or youth development program that has provided innovative STEAM programming, since at least January 1, 2022, that meets the highest standards of quality and demonstrates the capacity and impact of providing engaging STEAM activities to the children and youth served.
Afterschool and youth development organizations, departments and individual program sites which have operated for at least two years are eligible for the STEAM Innovation 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.
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 2022 Leadership Award Winner, Jonathan Perkins, Executive Director and Founder of The Fountain City Slam, Inc.!
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 2022 Rising Star Award Winner, Zaira Bhatti of the GUIDE, Inc. Youth Advisory Board!