The City of St. John’s Junior and Senior Youth of the Year Awards were developed by the Municipal Advisory Committee on Youth (M.A.C.Y), and is open to St. John’s residents between the ages of 12 to 18 years-old. The Youth of the Year Awards are designed to honour young people in the city, who through their volunteer contributions, extracurricular activities and community involvement have helped to make St. John’s a better place to live.
Each winner receives a recognition award as well as a cash award sponsored by Ron Ellsworth. Awards are presented during the Annual Youth Week Luncheon on Friday, May 3, 2019.
Nominate a deserving young person by filling in the Youth of the Year Award Application by Monday, April 15, 2019.
Congratulations to the 2018 Junior Youth of the Year Emily Dormody and Senior Youth of the Year Liam Warren.
Emily Dormody, a grade nine student at St. Paul's Junior High, is an outstanding academic, leader, dancer, actor, musician and volunteer. Emily has extensively volunteered her time at school through the student leadership team, leading the morning announcements, coordinating dances, helps with parent teacher interviews and the school bulletin board.
In the community Emily volunteers at the Vanier chess club, The Gathering Place, and Best Kind Productions and for the Downtown Christmas Parade.
Emily also finds time to participate in musicals, Duke of Edinburgh program, Kiwanis Music Festival in both voice and piano, and chess at regionals and provincial competitions. At school Emily is also active on the improv team that has won numberous awards, the school of basketball team and is part of the WE School organization, attended the WE Day leadership event, in Halifax.
Emily is an exemplary student and role model for others. Her teachers say her infectious personality and kind nature is a bright light in school. Emily has set the bar high for any age group with her strong leadership qualities, athletic, musical, and academic abilities, and most of all, her genuine desire to help others.
Liam Warren is a grade 12 student at Waterford Valley High and for the past three years has been on the Principal's list, maintaining above 90 per cent grade average.
Liam is an outstanding student who is quite involved in his school as an executive number of the student government and service on the school council, is involved with the school mental health committee, is involved in the fine arts program, and attended the provincial Student Leadership Conference. Liam has organized spirit week sporting events and a Movember fundraiser for prostate cancer, and this past winter organized a tribute rugby game to remember teacher Danny King who passed away in 2016.
Liam is also very involved in community including TedX Youth Talks, the Rugby Union of Newfoundland & Labrador, is a youth respresentative on his parish council and served on the Youth Council for federal Minister of Veteran Affairs Seamus O'Regan.
"Liam is one of the strongest student leaders I have worked with," says his principal Ms. Rickett's. "At such a young age Liam has an excellent record of leadership but more than that he is a genuine person who truly cares about people, his school and his community. He sees what needs to be done and puts himself out there to bring about solutions for positive change."