Walter B. Arnold Jr. 
Youth Hall of Fame

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.

Congratulations to all students who entered the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition's Walter B. Arnold Jr. Youth Hall of Fame Awards contest.

We proudly announce the following students as finalists for their regions. The finalists will be honored at a dinner ceremony at The Fair on Thursday, March 1, 2012. Invitations will be sent.

North Region Center:

• Beth Cohen, Nautilus Middle School
• Jonathan Ludmir, Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School

North Central Regional Center:

• Dillon Miranda, Lawton Chiles Middle School
• Kaina Bellegarde, William H. Turner Technical Arts Senior High School

South Regional Center:

• Ashley Scarry, Southwood Middle School
• Priscilla Suzel-Wright, Coral Reef Senior High School

South Central Regional Center:

• Miguel Brotons, Zelda Glazer Middle School
• Gary Rivadeneira, G. Holmes Braddock Senior School (Tie)
• Angeline Pino, International Studies Charter Senior High School (Tie)

Awards

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.

Qualifications

• Open to all middle and high school students in public, private, parochial and home schools.
• Students should show an ability to lead and involve others in their community service project.
• Students should demonstrate perseverance, independence, creative and critical thinking skills.
• All services must be documented.
• Community service should be varied with one major community service project highlighted.

Application

Applications are available at school sites or at the link below. The deadline for submitting is set by each school. Only one application may be submitted be each school. Schools must submit the winning application by December 13, 2011. Home schooled students from Miami-Dade County who will be enrolling in college this fall may call Ms. Diana Venturini at 305-995-1367 for applications and due dates.

Further information is available by email: yhof@fairexpo.com.

Click here to download the Walter B. Arnold, Jr. Youth Hall of Fame Community Service Award Application.

Walter B. Arnold Jr.

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.

References

Guide for Youth Volunteers - Hands on Miami	www.handsonmiami.org
ServeNet	www.servenet.org
Volunteer March	www.volunteermarch.org
Action Without Borders	www.idealist.org
Future Problem Solving Program	www.fpsp.org
Activism 2000 Project	www.youthactivism.org
Kidlink	www.kidlink.org
America's Promise	www.americaspromise.org
Youth Service America	www.YSA.org
Do Something	www.DoSomething.org
Youth Venture	www.youthventure.org
Excel Club	www.nationalexchangecluc.com
Points of Light Foundation	www.pointsoflight.org
Corporation for National & Community Service	www.nationalservice.org
Grass Roots	www.grassroots.org
Helping the Environment
Earth Force	www.earthforce.org
Kids for a Clean Environment	www.kidsface.org
Leadership
America Youth Foundation	www.ayf.org
Congressional Youth Leadership Council	www.cylc.org
Helping Children/Mentoring
Child Welfare League of America	www.cwla.org
Save the Children	www.savethechildren.org
Stand for Children	www.stand.org
National Mentoing Partnership	www.mentoring.org
Anti-Crime and Violence
Teens, Crime and the Community	www.nationaltcc.org
Youth Crime Watch of America	www.ycwa.org
Helping the Homeless and Hungry
Habitat for Humanity International	www.habitat.org
Second Harvest	www.secondharvest.org