This award recognizes noteworthy youth achievement for private and public middle and high school students from Miami-Dade County in service to their school and/or community. The Youth Hall of Fame was created to commemorate those students whose unselfish commitment of time and energy have impacted others in a beneficial way. In honoring youth achievement, the Youth Hall of Fame serves as a beacon to present and future youth.
There is one winner each in the high school and middle school category who will be inducted into the Youth Hall of Fame. Finalists are also recognized in each of the five Regional Centers of Miami-Dade County Public Schools at the high school and middle school level. Private school finalists will be divided into the Regional Centers by the physical address of the school. All finalists and inductees will be honored at a ceremony at The Fair. Each finalist will receive $100 and a plaque. Inductees will receive $1,000 and a plaque.
Walter B. Arnold Jr. admired the creativity, dreams and accomplishments of our community's youth and wanted to recognize and reward these talented young people. His community service brought him to The Fair where he joined the Board of Directors and served an amazing 41 years. He was named Fair Person of the Year by the Florida Federation of Fairs and was recognized throughout Florida for helping build the state's fair industry.
Arnold lived by his philosophy: "We were born into this world without paying for a whole lot of things. Our payment can be what we do for other people.'' He was devoted to youth programs, community service and the celebration and recognition of young achievers.
In 2001, The Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition Board of Directors officially established the Youth Hall of Fame Community Service Award to honor the vision and dream of Walter B. Arnold, Jr.
