We’re excited to announce that the Royalton YES! team has been selected as a Group Winner of a 2014 Lt. Governor’s Red Wagon Award! The Red Wagon Awards recognize groups of young people from across Minnesota who have worked together to increase civic engagement, improve academic achievement, and/or shown exemplary leadership in their community.
The Royalton Youth Energy Summit (YES!) team has demonstrated both civic engagement and exemplary leadership skills in their community through participation in the YES! program. Here is why: one student asked the question “where does the motor oil go in our community?” The YES! team did not like the answer they received and decided to do something about it. The YES! team researched the best way to keep the motor oil out of the water stream and decided to partner with East Side Oil to install a motor oil collection site on their campus. Now the community has a place to safely discard used motor oil, filters and anti-freeze. In addition, the YES! team held a “Smoothie” fundraiser, giving the proceeds of $350 to the local senior center. They designed and built an electronic vehicle and solar powered trailer and plan to install a hydration station yet this year!
A selection committee of Alliance staff, Minnesota Youth Council members, Alliance board members, key partners, and AmeriCorps Promise Fellows evaluate each nomination and select award recipients. Learn more about the awards and see the other award winners here: http://mnyouth.net/work/red-wagon-awards/
