Poughkeepsie… Dutchess County Executive William R. Steinhaus recognized the commitment of local youth volunteers and teachers as well as the accomplishments of more than thirty five young people at the Dutchess County Youth Board Annual Luncheon today at Dutchess Community College. 

County Executive Steinhaus said, “The Youth Excellence Awards represent what a great community we have here in Dutchess County.   These awards celebrate the achievement of our youth and pay tribute to the adults who have gone above and beyond to make our young people shine.”

Each year, the Youth Board honors Dutchess County youth who have overcome significant challenges in their lives, improved their academic performance or volunteered for community service.   The young people honored often lack effective support systems, face physical or emotional health issues or perhaps exhibited delinquent behavior at some time in the past. 

The County Executive’s YEA Awards were designed to celebrate these young people’s ability to learn, renew and recreate themselves in the face of change, challenge or adverse conditions in order to move forward with their lives.   Without these awards, the improved performance of many of these young people may be otherwise overlooked. 

County Executive Steinhaus presented 38 young people with the County Executive’s Youth Excellence Awards (YEA).    Each student has been nominated by local schools or agencies in one of the following categories:  Most Significant Improvement in Overall Performance, Success Despite Difficult Odds and Volunteer or Community Service.   A complete list of the award recipients is enclosed.  

Five students were each awarded $2,000 YEA Scholarships to Dutchess Community College provided in part by the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Benevolent Association and the Dutchess County Youth Board Endowment Fund.   The five scholarship recipients were: 

Student:         Nominated By:              For:
Jean Apolo         DC BOCES Alternative High School  Success Despite Despite Difficult Odds
Tiffany Brooks  Poughkeepsie High School    Most Significant Improvement In Overall Performance
Michael Lynch        John Jay High School      Success Despite Difficult Odds
Samantha Brittain   Cornell Cooperative Extension Green Teen Program      Success Despite Difficult Odds
Armando Vera-Quintana      Poughkeepsie High School           Success Despite Difficult Odds

The Dutchess County Youth Board also recognized several adults who have supported the efforts of young people by providing caring support and encouragement.  Three youth workers were honored in the following categories:

Professional Teacher Award
Barbara Murray, Physical Education Teacher, Red Hook High School

Professional Youth Worker Awards
Lauren McMenamin, Town of Fishkill Recreation Department

Dorothy O. Lasday Award for Volunteerism
Gwen Higgins, Co-advisor for Stissing Mountain High School S.T.O.P. Club (Students and Teachers Opposed to Prejudice)