2012 TFK YAYA Nomination Packet

It's that time of year again— nominations for the 2012 Youth Advocate of the Year (YAYA) Awards are open!

As always we will be awarding:

• 4 regional awards (Grades 9-12)

o East: CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT

o South: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, PR, SC, TN, TX, U.S. Virgin Islands, VA, WV

o Central: IA, IL,IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, OK, SD, WI

o West: AK, American Samoa, AZ, CA, CNMI, CO, Guam, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY

• 1 national award (Grades 9-12)

• 1 group award (Middle School and/or High School-aged)

This year, in honor of the White House's Joining Forces Initiative for Military Families, we will be awarding a Military Youth Advocate of the Year Award to a high school aged student with a parent or guardian in the military.

We are looking for youth who show leadership in holding tobacco companies accountable for marketing products to youth and/or who have made significant contributions to tobacco control policies. If you know any youth who fit the description of a YAYA, please send this email and the application to them. The application can also be found online at http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/what_we_do/youth_initiatives/gala/

The application includes:

• Short essay questions

• A short video on why you should be chosen as a 2012 YAYA award winner

• A recommendation from an adult advisor

• A picture of you to be used in the gala program if you are chosen as a winner.

Applications must be postmarked by January 27, 2012. This may seem far away—but there's no harm in starting early!

The winners will be honored at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids annual YAYA Gala on May 17, 2012 in Washington, D.C. Winners will be awarded grants and/or scholarships.

If you have any questions, be sure to contact nominations@tobaccofreekids.org or call 202-296-5469.