The Gloria Barron Prize 2018 for Young Heroes across North America

Deadline: April 15, 2018

Applications are now invited for the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes celebrates inspiring, public-spirited young people from diverse backgrounds all across North America. Each year, the Barron Prize honors 25 outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and the environment

The prize, which celebrates inspiring, public-spirited, highly diverse young people from all across America was founded by author T. A. Barron in 2000 in honor of his mother. He founded the Prize to share the stories of such inspiring young people and named it after his mother, who was a quiet hero in his own life.

Every year, the Barron Prize honors 25 inspiring young people ages 8 to 18, who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. These young people reflect great diversity: They are female and male, urban and rural, and from many races and backgrounds. The primary goal of the Prize is to shine the spotlight on these amazing young people so that their stories will inspire others.

Prizes

Eligibility

The Barron Prize welcomes applications from public-spirited young people who are:

• between the ages of 8 and 18 (not yet age 19)
• permanent residents of and currently residing in the U.S.A. or Canada
• currently working on an inspiring service project or have done so within the past 12 months
• working as an individual to lead their service work. The Barron Prize does not accept applications from large groups of young people.

The Barron Prize does not discriminate against its applicants based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

Selection Criteria

1. Winners must have organized and led an extraordinary service activity which has clearly benefited other people or the planet we share.
   • The service activity must have been initiated and motivated primarily by the winner himself or herself.
   • The service activity cannot have been done solely to complete an assignment for school or work.
2. Winners must have:
   • demonstrated positive spirit, courage, intelligence, generosity, and high moral purpose.
   • shown initiative, tenacity, and unselfishness in pursuit of their goals.
   • accomplished something with inspirational value—something that could inspire others to make a difference.
   • done more than survive a difficult personal challenge. Their heroism must have made an impact on the world beyond themselves.
3. Winners may or may not have received recognition for their heroic work. Fame itself shall not have been a motivating factor.

Application

1. Applications must be completed and submitted online by our deadline of 5:00 p.m. MST on April 15 each year, when the system will automatically close.
2. We do not accept applications via fax, email, U.S. mail, or any other carrier.
3. Please contact us well in advance of our deadline for any technical assistance you anticipate needing. We do not accept applications after April 15.
4. Applications must include a letter from the Lead Reference. A Lead Reference is simply an adult advocate who has solid knowledge of the young person’s heroic activities. Examples of Lead References include teachers, librarians, school counselors, youth service officials, and religious leaders.
5. Members of the applicant’s family cannot act as a Lead Reference nor write the other two required letters of recommendation.
6. All required application materials must be included at the time of submission. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
7. Contents of the application are considered public information once submitted and should not include private or privileged information.

Click here to apply.

For more information, visit The Gloria Barron Prize.