Cortland Area Communities that Care (CACTC) is a community based coalition that supports the youth of Cortland County. CACTC’s vision is a safe, stable community that supports positive values, education, diversity, and investment in youth. One of the new initiatives of CACTC is the Cortland Youth of the Year Award. Previously, sponsored by the Cortland City Youth Bureau, the Youth of the Year Award has a new home with CACTC.

            Due to budget restraints and staffing concerns, the Cortland City Youth Bureau's Assistant Director, Cecile Scott, approached CACTC’s Youth Involvement Committee last spring about transferring the administration of the award to CACTC. The City Youth Bureau was the sole sponsor of the awards since its inception and Cecile was the driving force behind the awards. She will continue to serve on CACTC’s Youth Involvement Committee and assist with the transition and nomination process along with Erica Denaga, Youth Services Supervisor for the City Youth Bureau.

            CACTC is now seeking nominations for youth 14 to 19 years of age who live in Cortland County for the Cortland Youth of the Year Award. Students whose personal accomplishments in the areas of Community Engagement (Community Service) or Exemplary Success in Overcoming Challenges are eligible for the award. CACTC would like to recognize those students who have had an impact in their school or community.

            The award process for the 2011 Cortland Youth of the Year is more simplified. There are two awards and separate forms for each award. This will help focus in on the individual talents and accomplishments of each student. Students can be nominated by a teacher, a parent, or a community member, but self-nominations are excluded.

            Manny Lann, Chair of the Youth Involvement Committee of CACTC and the Director of the Cortland County Youth Bureau stated, “We have many outstanding youth in Cortland County who often go unrecognized. The award is a nice way to honor youth who give back to their community and have achieved success in their lives even though it may not have always been easy. We appreciate all the work that the City Youth Bureau did in administering the award in the past and look forward to continuing their efforts at CACTC."

            One winner will be chosen in each category, but ALL nominees will be honored. Winners will be announced during a special ceremony on January 24, 2012, at the Beard Building, 9 Main Street in Cortland.  Prizes will also be given to the winning students at the ceremony.        

            The deadline for nominations is December 1^st. Forms are available through each school district and can also be picked up at the Downtown Business Partnership, 9 Main Street, at the YWCA, and the YMCA. If you would like a form, please call the CACTC office at (607) 299-4910, and one will be mailed to you.

            Nominees will be judged by a community panel that represents a cross section of the Cortland County community, and will include local and county officials, business leaders. and members of community organizations.

            Nomination forms can also be sent via e-mail. To obtain a form, please contact Michele Whalen at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

            If you know of a deserving youth in your community, please complete the nomination form for the Cortland Youth of the Year Award. Completed forms must be returned to Cortland Area Communities that Care, 33-35 Central Avenue, Cortland, NY 13045 by December 1^st.

Michele Whalen is the Coalition Coordinator at Cortland Area Communities that Care.