Community Awards & Contests

Congratulations to the 2011 Young Hero Award Recipients

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Young Heroes

This annual award, sponsored by TD Bank, recognizes young people who work for positive change in their schools and communities through art and creative writing, leadership, volunteer work, political involvement or peer mediation. One winner receives a $1000 grand prize. All winners receive recognition at an awards ceremony at the Museum; a certificate of recognition, medallion and gifts; a plaque featuring their story in the Museum’s Young Heroes Exhibit and a wonderful accomplishment to include on college and job applications.

If you know a young person who should be considered for this honor in 2012, click here for a nomination form

To submit your nomination online, click here.

We encourage you to review this Sample Letter of Recommendation (PDF) before submitting your nomination. It will show you the type of information that is provided to help us consider a Young Hero Nominee. Please use this as a guideline only. We are eager to hear the accomplishments of YOUR Young Hero.

 

Highlights of the 2011 Young Heroes Award:

Each year the National Liberty Museum searches for young people who strive to make a difference in their school, community or beyond. The winners of the 2011 award included students who raised money for important causes... students who stepped up to defuse violence and bigotry.... students who used the arts to celebrate diversity and friendship, and many other mentoring, tutoring and volunteer activities. The winner of the President’s Honor Award, receiving a $1,000 and a laptop computer, was Adaline Ortiz, a graduate of Thomas Alva Edison High School in Philadelphia.  Adaline was recognized for using her extraordinary photography and film making skills to create a video that encourages students to stand up against bullying and violence. The entire group of recipients included students from Philadelphia, the surrounding surburbs and New Jersey, as well as one student from New Orleans, LA.

The National Liberty Museum wishes to thank TD Bank for sponsoring the Young Heroes Award, all the nominators for bringing these exceptional students to our attention, Sue Serio of Fox29 News for serving as Emcee, and all the family members and friends who joined us to celebrate these outstanding students.

The winners of the 2011Young Heroes Award included:

  • The 13 Lines Band (Stone Mathers and Nikhil Rajagopal) Bala Cynwyd Middle School., Bala Cynwyd, PA
  • Theodore Caputi, Council Rock High School North, Newtown, PA
  • Kayla Carroll, Williamstown High School, Williamstown, PA and Jasmine Dippner-Marshall, Haddonfield Memorial High School, Haddonfield, PA (awarded jointly)
  • Vu Chau, Olney High School West, Philadelphia,  PA
  • Alice Croom, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Middle School, Bristol Township, PA
  • Anthony Devergillo, Bernards High School, Bernardsville, NJ
  • Mahlon Graham, St. Francis de Sales School, Philadelphia
  • Daniette Horton, Andrew Jackson Elementary School,  Philadelphia, PA
  • Kayla Jackson, Lawrence Intermediate School, Lawrence Township, NJ
  • Kierstin Diana Koopman, McAuliffe Middle School, Jackson, NJ
  • Amanda Kruse, Mount Carmel Academy, New Orleans, LA
  • Kathy Lam, Southwark Elementary School, Philadelphia, PA
  • Kiera A. Marsh-Hall, Thomas May Pierce School, Philadelphia, PA
  • Mackenzie Ann Olson, Clearview Regional Middle School, Mullica Hill, NJ
  • Adaline Ortiz, Thomas Alva Edison High School, Philadelphia, PA
  • Tiffany Santos, Murrell Dobbins High School, Philadelphia, PA
  • Hanna Schoenleber, Archbishop Wood High School, Warminster, PA
  • Team Stronger, Clearview Regional High School, Mullica Hill, NJ
    Members: Lindsay Brown, Danielle Brown (Pleasant Valley E.S), Emily Bujnowski, Gabrielle DeMayo (Camden Catholic H.S.), Brianna Fox-Priest, Matthew Marinelli, Megan McCafferty, Erin Mustafa, Katie Pellak, Danielle Wehner, Matt Wyatt
  • Max Wallace, Academy in Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA
  • Anthony Warren, Creative Arts High School, Camden, NJ