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There’s still time to nominate Ponoka’s young leaders

The deadline is fast approaching for folks to nominate young leaders in the community.

The deadline is fast approaching for folks to nominate young leaders in the community.

The Leaders of Tomorrow program is in its 18th year of recognizing Ponoka’s youth volunteers, says Leanne Brusegard, chairperson of the Leaders of Tomorrow Committee. Youths in the Ponoka area, who have volunteered their time to improve the community, will be honoured at an awards ceremony April 6 at the Ponoka Secondary Campus.

But time is running out, says Brusegard, since the nominations deadline is Feb. 28. Those who wish to nominate a young leader can find forms at the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre, at Ponoka and areas schools or online at www.ponoka.ca. Organizing the event began last year.

“We actually started planning for this event in October,” explained Brusegard.

There are four categories this year:

• Primary – Kindergarten to Grade 3

• Elementary – Grades 4 to 6

• Junior – Grades 7 to 9

• Senior – Grades 10 to 12

Brusegard said the goal is to “ensure the youth of our community are recognized and acknowledged for their contributions.” The Mecca Glen and Crestomere schools and the Christian School are on board and the eight-member committee is looking forward to seeing the nomination forms come in.

Nominations will be sent to anonymous judges outside of the community who will then evaluate each individual. Brusegard said all primary and elementary nominees will receive a certificate for their efforts and the junior and senior winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, which is open to all nominees’ family members.

Encana has been the sole sponsor of Ponoka’s Leaders of Tomorrow program for the last 18 years, said Brusegard, helping pay for the awards ceremony and supplies.

All youths will be invited to a 4-H leadership workshop May 2 to 3 at the 4-H centre in Battle Lake as well. Brusegard feels the Leaders of Tomorrow Awards provide a valuable tool for students’ resumes. “A lot of schools look at that. A lot of jobs look at that.”