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 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, March 1 to February 28. 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:

Services to the elderly, unemployed, and other vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as shopping, holding food drives, etc.
Supporting health care workers, first responders, and other front-line workers during the pandemic by offering food, words of encouragement, or other services.
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;
Projects that help to finance local government programs.

How to Enter: Flyers and promotional materials are mailed to county associations, Boy and Girl Scout troops, schools, and 4-H clubs statewide each spring. The guidelines and entry form are available to download each spring.

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 their respective county association of township officials for the president’s signature.

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 award of $500, and coverage of their winning entry in the Association’s monthly magazine, the Pennsylvania Township News, and in their local newspapers.

Deadline for Entry: March 1, 2022

For more information: