The 2009 St. Maarten Outstanding Youth Awards (SMOYA) is slated to take place on Saturday August 15, 2009. The annual S.M.O.Y.A. program recognizes and honors young people between the ages of 6 and 21 who demonstrate the best qualities of St. Maarten’s youth. The objective of this program is to encourage young people on St. Maarten to strive for excellence in everything that they do. SMOYA’s are awarded in eight categories: Academic, Community, Cultural, Environmental, Music, Personal Improvement, Scientific/Technological Development and Sports.
Any person residing on St. Maarten between the ages of six and twenty one can be nominated. Only an organization (school, church, sports team, NGO) can make nominations. Nomination forms are available at the Rupert I Maynard Youth Community Center or may be obtained by sending an email to sx*************@ho*****.com. The deadline for registration has been extended to June 13, 2009. Completed nomination forms should be delivered to the office of the St. Maarten Youth Council Association at the Rupert I Maynard Youth Community Center.
Following the initial review process, nominees will be interviewed by a panel of judges, who will determine the winner in each category. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony to be held later in the year. The St. Maarten Youth Council Association encourages all organizations to look around at the accomplishments of our youth and nominate persons for SMOYA.
The St. Maarten Youth Council Association has been hosting the SMOYA Awards since 2004. Past awardees include: Ayana Tyrell, Brittney Watkins, Alexis Williams, Romeo Brown, Emmy Fraenk, Calvin Mardembrough Jr., Jeremy Bary, Stuart Johnson and Trumane Trotman. For further information, please call the St. Maarten Youth Council Association at 548-5022/555-8971