PRIMEtime Fellows named "2008 Red Wagon Award" recipients
Local high school youth receive statewide honor from Lt. Governor |
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Lt. Governor Carol Molnau and the Minnesota Alliance With Youth have announced that the Northfield PRIMEtime Fellows are recipients of the “2008 Red Wagon Award.”
The PRIMEtime Fellows are a group of high school students who volunteer their time to serve as junior counselors with local after school programs. The Fellows are placed with the PLUS programs at Bridgewater and Greenvale Park Elementary School, as well as at the Middle School Youth Center. This summer, these students also volunteered daily with the Summer PLUS program, a free daily enrichment program for 250+ youth in grades K-8.
Over the past year, 20 students have served as PRIMEtime Fellows, contributing more than 1,750 hours combined to help younger youth build positive relationships and engage in enrichment activities. The fellows also participate in regular reflection sessions and journal about their experiences.
“The PRIMEtime Fellows serve as incredible, positive role models for the younger students,” said Marnie Thompson, Northfield High School Assistant Principal. “It is so much fun to see the younger students interact with their older peers and form very meaningful relationships.” |
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Four of the PRIMEtime Fellows volunteer recently at the Community Youth Fair |
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This marks the second consecutive year that a Northfield youth group has won this prestigious statewide honor. The Northfield Skateboard Coalition was one of three Minnesota groups to receive the honor in 2007. The PRIMEtime Fellows will be recognized at a local reception during the 2008-09 school year, as well as in a ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion in September.
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| Information on fall youth sports opportunities available online |
 Formed in 2002, the Northfield Youth Sports Collaborative is a volunteer-run coalition working to make it possible for all Northfield youth to participate in local youth sports associations. The Youth Sports Collaborative plans recruitment efforts to increase the number of youth engaged in sports. In partnership with the Northfield Community Action Center, the Collaborative also administers a shared scholarship fund that helps to assure all young people – regardless of their families’ financial means – can take part in youth sports associations.
Three times per year, the Northfield Youth Sports Collaborative produces a sports information brochure, providing details about upcoming registration deadlines and contact information for area youth sports programs. These brochures are available in English and Spanish.
For more information on the Northfield Youth Sports Collaborative, contact Beth Berry, Youth Sports Collaborative Chair, at 645-8049 or Beth.Berry@nfld.k12.mn.us.
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Softball players win "Making a Difference Award"
Local youth honored for efforts to engage more young people in the sport |
| Erin Eggum, Lauren Behr, Emily Green, and Morgan Zabel were the July recipients of the Healthy Community Initiative’s “Making a Difference Award.” The award celebrates those groups and individuals in the community who have a positive influence on Northfield youth.
The young women were nominated for the award because of the work they did to promote and introduce summer recreation softball for girls ages 6-14. The young women – all softball players themselves – recognized the value that being involved in sports can have on youth.
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“We decided to promote activities to the youth and encourage their involvement through our high school service-learning class,” said Green.
Promotion of the summer softball program was done through visits to the elementary and middle schools and by hosting a Fun Day that allowed girls to watch a high school girls' softball game, meet the players, and enjoy refreshments together.
“The promotion and recruitment efforts resulted in increased numbers in the summer youth softball program and positive connections between the high school students and younger girls,” said Erin Mayberry, Recreation Coordinator for Northfield Public Schools’ Community Services Division.
All four young women were able to share their interest in softball with younger girls and watch them become more confident and improved players. |
| Pictured (from left) Erin Eggum, Lauren Behr, Emily Green and Morgan Zabel |
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“It felt so good to see what we taught all of these girls,” said Eggum. “It was awesome to see the support of the parents and watch them cheer on the teams.”
In her nomination of the young women, Julie Pritchard, Northfield parent, noted, “It is quite evident that each of them is a natural at coaching, teaching and mentoring, but they also have a genuine interest in each girl and the desire to see them succeed.”
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| The Healthy Community Initiative and the Northfield News present the Making a Difference Award cooperatively. If you know an individual or group that you would like to nominate for this award, click here for nomination guidelines and the easy-to-complete application. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and are selected by a review team of HCI board members and local youth. |
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| Apply for a Mini-Grant today - it's easy! |
With the start of the new school year fast-approaching, don’t forget to apply for a HCI Mini-Grant to help turn an idea you have into a reality!
HCI can provide up to $400 in funding to support efforts that:
- provide the opportunity for young people to develop positive intergenerational relationships with caring adults and/or
- connect Northfield youth with their communities (ex. neighborhood, school, wider Northfield)
To learn more about the mini-grant program, click here.
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In This Issue:
PRIMEtime Fellows named "2008 Red Wagon Award" recipients
Information on fall youth sports opportunities available online
Softball players win "Making a Difference Award"
Apply for a Mini-Grant today - it's easy!
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