Bristol Parks And Rec Accepting Nominations For Youth Recognition Awards

By Brian M. Johnson, The Bristol Press

February 4, 2022

Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services is accepting community nominations for the department’s 30th Annual Youth Recognition Awards.

The Youth Recognition Award spotlights and celebrates young people who go "above and beyond" in service to the Bristol community. Adults who benefitted from a community service project or the volunteerism of a youth or youth group may choose to nominate them. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, March 31 at 4:30 p.m.

Award recipients will ultimately be honored at a ceremony, which will be held on May 11 at Muzzy Field.

The 30th year of the Youth Recognition Awards comes at a time where, due to the pandemic, it has been more challenging for youths to accumulate required community service hours.

“I am excited to see how many of our young people go above and beyond to serve our All Heart City through their extraordinary volunteer efforts," Mayor Jeff Caggiano said. "It is important to inspire the youth of Bristol to give back to the community in order to create engaged citizens of the future. I also look forward to recognizing and acknowledging Bristol’s outstanding youth as we celebrate 30 years of the Annual Youth Service Recognition Day later this year.”

Youth and Community Services Supervisor Stephen Bynum said the Youth Recognition Awards are "always an exciting time of the year."

"Through application submissions we learn and hear all of the great stories and accomplishments of our Youth," he said."If you know of any deserving Youth individuals or groups we encourage you to nominate them for this very special award."

Joshua Medeiros, superintendent of Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services, said he is looking forward to seeing who the community nominates this year.

“Every year the Youth Commission enjoys learning about the outstanding volunteer work youth are doing in the community," he said. "We have some truly remarkable young people in Bristol and we look forward to receiving nominations and formally recognizing their hard work later this spring."

In 2021, the Group Recognition Award was presented to the Kids in the Middle Program at Chippens-Hill Middle School and West Bristol School. Individual award recipients included Nicole Alvia, Yarelis Vega, and Samantha Licki.

Nomination forms for both individual and youth groups are available online at bristolrec.com.

Completed applications can be emailed to Jazzya Coakley, assistant to the superintendent of Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services, at jazzyacoakley@bristolct.gov.

For more information, visit bristolrec.com or call 860-584-6160.

Brian M. Johnson can be reached at 860-973-1806 or bjohnson@bristolpress.com.