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Youth Voice Spirit & Community Impact Award

For the work that happens when nobody is watching the stage

Judged entirely separately from speech placement, and awarded in both the Middle School and High School divisions. The point is that a student who moved their school forward should be recognized even if they did not reach the speech Top 3.

  • Leadership & Initiative

    35%

    Evidence: Founding or leading a club, organizing activities, taking responsibility without being asked.

  • Community Mobilization

    25%

    Evidence: Bringing peers in, building a team, widening the reach of an activity.

  • Awareness & Inclusion

    20%

    Evidence: Raising child and youth issues, listening across different groups, running inclusive activities.

  • Fundraising / Service Effort

    20%

    Evidence: Fundraising or service for the approved charitable goal. Amounts may be cited as evidence, but are never the sole measure.

The design principle

Why the largest donation does not win

Donation amounts can be submitted as impact evidence — they are a real signal of effort and organizing. But a simple "whoever raised the most wins" rule turns a youth leadership award into a measure of family financial capacity.

So fundraising and service sits at 20% of the rubric, and 80% of the weight goes to what the student actually did: starting things, bringing peers in, listening across groups, and raising issues that were not being discussed.

The award is for mobilization, not for a cheque.

Evidence that counts

  • Club founding documentation and school approval.
  • Records of listening sessions, surveys or discussions you ran.
  • Participation numbers and team structure for activities you organized.
  • Awareness-campaign materials and who they reached.
  • Service hours completed and approved fundraising results.
  • A short Youth Voice Brief summarizing what your peers told you.

How to be considered

Submission and timing

Spirit Award process
Stage What happens
Through the yearRun club activity — listening sessions, discussions, service, approved fundraising, in-school showcases. Keep simple records as you go.
November 14–21Spirit Award evidence submission window, alongside competitor preparation and the judge brief.
Competition dayThe award is announced in the joint awards ceremony, separately for each division.
After the eventRecognized students receive the award record, with volunteer hours logged for service actually completed.

Most Spirit Award evidence starts with a club.

Every Grade 6–12 competitor is eligible to apply to start a Youth Voice Club at their own school, with school approval.

Youth Voice Clubs What students gain