Yoshiyama Awards

Criteria for Eligibility

Award selection is based upon the significance and extent of the nominee's service to the community. The panel considers the relevance of these activities to addressing profound community and societal problems.

Award recipients represent the diversity of American society and exemplify the outstanding achievement of America's young people.

Yoshiyama Award selection is based upon service and the opportunity for longer-term social change rather than on academic achievement or extracurricular activities.

To be eligible to receive this Award, candidates must be:

Graduating high school seniors in the United States and U.S. territories. (Nominees need not be college bound.)
Individuals who's activities impacted a socially, economically, or culturally isolated area.
Nominated by someone familiar with their service (clergy, school official, teacher, service agency representative, etc.). Family members may not nominate their relatives and students may not nominate themselves.
Individuals whose activities created longer-term, sustainable social change.
Individuals whose service has surpassed what is ordinarily expected of a socially responsible citizen.
Individuals who have demonstrated self-motivation, leadership, creativity, dedication, and commitment in pursuing their service.
Individuals who have made a conscious effort to involve and inspire others to participate in community action.