Red Wagon Awards
Research shows – and experience proves - that academic achievement, civic engagement, and leadership development are all keys to a young person’s success – and that each impacts the others. We also know that recognition and celebration of a student’s accomplishments are crucial for continued success.
The Red Wagon Awards recognizes those young people who have demonstrated any or all of the following:
- Increased academic achievement
- Civic engagement & service
- Exemplary leadership
Who could nominate a young person? –
Anyone! Alliance partners of all types – nonprofit and community-based organizations, businesses, faith communities, government officials, educators, parents & families, AmeriCorps Promise Fellows – anyone who works with young people!
How were winners selected? –
A selection committee of Alliance staff, Minnesota Youth Council members, Alliance board members, key partners, and AmeriCorps Promise Fellows evaluated each nomination and selected honorees.
Questions on 2011 Nominations? –
Contact the Alliance Staff at info@mnyouth.net
Promote the Red Wagon Awards
ALLIANCE PRESENTS 2011 RED WAGON AWARDS
September 26, 2011 (St. Paul, Minn.) – The Minnesota Alliance With Youth presented six organizations and ten individuals with Red Wagon Awards at a ceremony today at the Governor’s residence in St. Paul. The Red Wagon Awards recognize the outstanding service, leadership, and academic success of youth from across the state.
Board members Esther Lee and Lt. Governor Yvonne Prettner-Solon present a Red Wagon Award
Also honored was the Otto Bremer Foundation, which received the Alliance’s Star Partner Award. Over the past few years, the Bremer Foundation has been a key partner with the Alliance by generously providing financial support for several partner communities to host AmeriCorps Promise Fellows, convene community gatherings to address youth issues, and to engage young people in civic life both at the local level and through the Minnesota Youth Council.
The group award winners are:
- Crosby Youth Center – Crosby
- EMID Youth Executive Board – St. Paul
- Make A Difference Club – Fergus Falls
- Olmsted/Rochester Youth Commission – Rochester
- Waconia CYAC – Waconia
- 24-Sevens Transitions Project – Minneapolis
The individual award winners are:
- Sagal Ali – Minneapolis
- TreVon Alred – Minneapolis
- Ananaya Alwal – Worthington
- Nicole Ektnitphong – Worthington
- Mohamed Gafaa – St. Paul
- Safia Hirsi – Robbinsdale
- Hsa Hser Moo – St. Paul
- Aamina Muhammad – Minneapolis
- Mariah Snead – Crystal
- Cheng Leng Xiong – St. Paul
The presentation was led by Alliance Board Co-Chairs Esther Lee and Mary Ackerman, and Honorary Board Co-Chair Yvonne Prettner Solon, Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota. Lee was a 2010 Red Wagon Award honoree. This is the 9th year the Red Wagon Awards have been presented by the Minnesota Alliance With Youth.
About the Minnesota Alliance With Youth
Founded in 1997, the Alliance is Minnesota’s leading convener, collaborator and capacity-builder for youth development. The Alliance promotes youth leadership and advocacy, is a catalyst for resources to help youth succeed, and considers youth and adults as equal contributors in our work. This year, the Alliance has placed 116 AmeriCorps Promise Fellows in 400 communities, has dozens of partners and continues to convene the Minnesota Youth Council.
