The Exchange Club of Columbus Youth of the Year and A.C.E. Award

For many years the Exchange Club of Columbus has recognized outstanding graduating seniors from each high school within Lowndes County during a lunchtime program at the Columbus Country Club. We are planning on recognizing an Exchange Club Youth of the Year and an A.C.E. award winner from your high school.

During the program scheduled for April 2nd, 2009, we will recognize each award winner, from each school, and have a special presentation honoring their accomplishments. We encourage each award winner to invite family, school counselors, influential teachers and administration for this special program.

We have two categories and two recognition programs for each school. The Youth of the Year recognition is a traditional award that recognizes outstanding school involvement and performance. Our A.C.E. (Accepting the Challenge of Excellence) award winner is a non-traditional designee, who has inspired and overcome major obstacles in their quest for a high school diploma. More information on this program is included with the application. (Applications are available in counselor’s office)

The Exchange Club Youth Committee will review all entries and choose one Youth of the Year winner from all submissions and one A.C.E. award winner from all submissions and recognize these outstanding students as our Youth of the Year and A.C.E. winner from Lowndes County. The selected graduating seniors chosen as the overall Lowndes County recipients will each receive a scholarship of $500.00 from the Columbus Exchange Club towards furthering their education.

In addition, our Lowndes County winners will then be submitted to the Mississippi District Exchange Club program allowing them to further compete for additional scholarship awards. If they are selected as a district winner, they are then entered into the national competition and they will be eligible for larger scholarship amounts. Our March 6th submission deadline is important for this process so that we can submit our Lowndes County winners into the district competition by district program deadlines. Your school submission deadline is March 6th, 2009.