Youth Advocates of the Year Awards

The Youth Advocates of the Year Awards, sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, honor the outstanding work of young advocates who have taken the lead in holding the tobacco industry accountable for their efforts to market their products to youth.

Who are Youth Advocate of the Year Awardees?

These young activists fight to protect their peers, their communities and the nation from the dangers of tobacco use through public education efforts, student-to-student training and outreach to policymakers.

Many have worked to change policy at all levels to limit youth access to tobacco, protect people from secondhand smoke, and ensure that tobacco prevention programs continue to receive funding. Through all of their work, these youth inspire and motivate other young people to join them in their efforts.

Youth Advocate of the Year Award Winners are expected to work closely with the Campaign throughout the year following their award.

Award winners serve as spokespeople with the media, contribute to our Kick Butts Day Guide and events and represent the Campaign at workshops and conferences.

They also work closely with Campaign staff throughout the year on our policy priorities at the local, state, tribal, national and international levels.

Past award winners have helped pass local and state smoke-free workplace policies, have advocated to tobacco prevention funding and tobacco excise tax increases and have helped build support for strong and effective FDA regulation of tobacco.

How do I apply?

If you feel that you've exhibited the qualities of the next Youth Advocate of the Year, start the application process! First, choose which award you'd like to apply for:

1 East Region (grades 9-12): CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
1 South Region (grades 9-12): AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, PR, SC, TN, TX, U.S. Virgin Islands, VA, WV
1 Central Region (Grades 9-12): IA, IL,IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, OK, SD, WI
1 West Region (Grades 9-12): AK, American Samoa, AZ, CA, CNMI, CO, Guam, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
1 National (Grades 9-12)
1 Military (Grades 9-12) — Must have a parent/guardian in the U.S. military

Then, complete the nomination packet, make a short video of yourself explaining why you think you deserve the award and mail it to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids by ~~Friday, Jan. 27, 2012~~. UPDATE: The Deadline has been extended to Friday, Feb. 3, 2012.

Awards Gala

All winners work with the Campaign throughout the year, traveling to conferences and other youth events across the country to promote tobacco prevention.

Past winners have been interviewed on Oprah and Peter Jennings Reporting, appeared in People magazine, participated in White House events, spoken at press conferences and met with Members of Congress, among others.