CARY TEEN COUNCIL takes home the prize again at annual youth council convention

CARY, NC – The Cary Teen Council has done it again, taking home the “Most Diverse Council” Award for the second year in a row at the 2007 State Youth Council (SYC) Convention in Morehead City last month; also, three of the Teen Council’s members received exemplary recognition for their scholarship and service efforts at the Council’s Annual End of the Year Picnic at Bond Park in May.

The SYC awarded Cary ’s Teen Council the “Most Diverse Award” and plaque for the diversity of the organization and group’s activities.  The Cary Youth Council is comprised of Asian, Indian, Chinese, African American, Italian, Greek, Pakistani, and Nigerian members and has sponsored an array of diverse events the past year, including: Cary Teen Forum (this year’s theme was “Are We All Really That Different”), the Ritmo Latino Concert, and Miracle League (special needs baseball league), to name a few.

The Cary Teen Council has been actively involved in the SYC for nine years.  Comprised of teenagers ages 15-18 from 23 local youth councils across North Carolina , the SYC provides opportunities for young people to be involved in local and state projects, participate in government, develop leadership skills, and represent youth in civic activities.

The same weekend that the Diverse Council Award was presented, the Teen Council presented three awards at their annual awards banquet.  First, Snayha Nath, a graduate of Enloe High School , was awarded the Town’s Annual Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Scholarship for $1,000.  Nath was honored in recognition of her dedication to the Town, having invested more than 230 service hours as a member of the Teen Council; she plans to attend Duke University in the fall.

Also, Savannah Alfonso and Helen Ching received the New Member of the Year awards in the middle school and high school categories, respectively.  Alfonso, a student at West Cary Middle School , has invested more than 25 hours in her first year in the Teen Council in activities such as the Town’s Tree Lighting Ceremony and the tree planting at the Dog Park .  Ching, a student at Athens Drive High School , has put in more than 60 hours in activities that include Adopt-a-Highway and the Town’s Safe-N-Sane event.        

“We’re very proud of the Teen Council for all of their outstanding work and service to the community” said Cindi King, Assistant Community Center Supervisor.  “We congratulate every member for their dedication to enhancing our community.” 

Established in 1987, the Cary Teen Council is comprised of high school and middle school members from surrounding public and private schools.  Teens ages 11-18 may join the Council by mailing a completed membership application along with a one-time membership fee of $15.00 (fee includes a Cary Teen Council T-Shirt), payable to Cary Teen Council, to: Cary Teen Council; c/o Cary Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department; P.O. Box 8005; Cary, N.C. 27512-8005.

For more, see Cary Teen Council at www.townofcary.org.

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