By Johnny Swinehart
February 14, 2011

Throughout the month of January, Mayors from across the country have been honoring young people in their community to receive the Kennedy Legacy Award, a special designation for youth leadership sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

The Kennedy Legacy Awards honors youth who serve as role models in their community and have demonstrated a commitment to a legacy of service. Due to their commitment to community service, as well as their commitment to creating positive change in their communities, these young people have shown that they embody the spirit of President Kennedy.

During January 5-14, through a partnership with the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and The U.S. Conference of Mayors, over a hundred mayors have participated in JFK 50th: Mayors Ask What Youth Can Do events to talk to and engage young people about the importance of public service.

Individuals who received the award actively participated in public service while contributing to their community in a positive way, such as organizing school clothing drives or food donation programs. For younger recipients of the award, who haven’t had the opportunity to substantially contribute to their community at large, the awardees were recognized for being a role models for their peers by being stand out leaders and actively being committed to giving back to their community.

The recipients of the Kennedy Legacy awards are: Jason Gillard (North Little Rock, AR); Todd Smith (Lancaster, PA); Jalen Johnson (Willmington, DE); Gabriel Colucci (Sarasota, FL); Noah Jones (Bowling Green, KY); Clayton Hackney (Gastonia, NC); Matt Vance (Gardner, MA); Boyd High School (McKinney, TX); City Year Seattle, King County (Seattle, WA); Glenside Middle School Student Council, Marquardt Middle School Student Council (Glendale Heights, IL); Terrance Robinson, Jennise Williams, Nynoshka Segarra, Thao Doung, Victoria Jean-Renee Daniels, Javier A. Soegaard, Nate Snow, Sixto Cancel, Bobbi Brown, Trevardo Williams, Keith Carlos, Levanda Wright, Jennifer Cruz, Courtney Baldwin (Bridgeport, CT); Joseph Tompey (Spring Lake Heights, NJ); Shari Davis (Boston, MA), Ivy Dodson (Chattanooga, TN); Dinah Copple (Turlock, CA); Jordan Ostby (North Miami, FL), and Eduardo Velasquez, Camille Stanfield,Victoria Cervantes, Abel Jimenez, George Ruiz Calderon (Salinas, CA).

All recipients of the Legacy Awards are shining examples to the community around them and are deserving of recognition. The awardees achievements should serve as a positive example for those around them, as well as future generations to come.