Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors

PSATS Youth Awards

Purpose: To recognize youth groups that make valuable and lasting contributions to improve life in Pennsylvania’s townships of the second class. The awards program, established in honor of Milton W. DeLancey, the State Association’s former executive director, encourages greater youth involvement in township government.

Eligible Entrants: All youth groups, such as 4-H clubs, Scout troops, school groups, and civic service club youth organizations from elementary school through grade 12, are eligible. The association of township officials in the entrant’s county must nominate the group for the award. The county association may initiate the nomination or the youth group may ask to be nominated.

Eligible projects must have been undertaken during the contest year, October 1 to September 15. Multi-year, ongoing projects also are eligible provided part of the project occurred during the contest year.

The project must have a major impact on townships of the second class and should provide youth group members with the opportunity to increase their knowledge of township government as well as develop a sense of personal and group achievement. Projects also should enhance the group members’ communication skills, their understanding of the decision-making process, and citizenship responsibilities.

The following is a list of some eligible projects and ideas:

Community beautification, clean-up and fix-up of buildings, and litter clean-up projects;
Direct services to residents of the community, such as the elderly, children, the disabled and hospitalized, and the underprivileged;
Fund-raising projects for worthy causes;
Soil and water conservation, environmental protection, and recycling;
Voter registration and assisting in the election process;
Safety and recreation projects;
Blood donation and first aid projects; and
Projects that help to finance local government programs.

How to Enter: Official entry forms are mailed to county associations, Boy and Girl Scout troops, and 4-H clubs statewide in late June or early July. Forms can also be obtained by calling PSATS at (717) 763-0930. A downloadable pdf version of the guidelines and entry form is available here.

To enter, a group should complete the official form and have it signed by the group’s youth project or activity chairman, the group’s volunteer leader, and the chairman of the township board of supervisors.

Entrants should then submit the entry form along with documentation of the project to the county association of township officials.

Judging Criteria: To be eligible, all projects must involve youth in the planning and implementation. They must have a major impact on townships of the second class and should provide the youth group members with an opportunity to “learn by doing.”

Awards: Four winners will be chosen to receive a framed certificate, a cash reward of $500, and coverage of their winning entry in the Association’s monthly magazine, the Pennsylvania Township News, and in their local newspapers.

Contact Person: Brenda Wilt, PSATS Associate Editor, phone (717) 763-0930, fax (717) 763-9732, e-mail bwilt@psats.org.

Deadlines for Entry: All youth groups must submit their entry form to the president of the county association of township officials by September 15.

County associations of township officials must submit the entry form to the state association by October 1.