Recognizing "Youth Empowered to Serve"

Celebrating Young Leaders. Inspiring Stronger Communities.

Every day, young people are making a difference.

They're leading with integrity, serving others, overcoming adversity, encouraging their peers, and quietly making their schools and communities better places.

The YES! (Youth Empowered to Serve) Awards were created by The EMpact One Foundation to recognize and celebrate these outstanding young people.

We believe acts of kindness, perseverance, leadership, and service deserve to be recognized—not just championships, grades, or accolades.

If you know a young person who is making a positive impact, we invite you to nominate them today.

Click to Nominate

Our Mission

The YES! Awards exist to recognize and celebrate youth who demonstrate:

Leadership
Character and Integrity
Service to Others
Perseverance and Resilience
Personal Growth
Positive Community Impact

Through quarterly recognition and annual scholarships, the program highlights the incredible difference young people are making every day while inspiring others to do the same.

Who Can Be Nominated?

Nominees must:

Be 18 years of age or younger
Be enrolled in school, participating in a recognized youth activity, or actively engaged in their community
Demonstrate outstanding character, leadership, perseverance, service, or positive impact
Be nominated by a parent, educator, coach, employer, mentor, faith leader, or community member

What Makes a YES! Award Recipient?

We're looking for young people who lead by example.

Maybe they...

✔ Encourage others when no one is watching.

✔ Volunteer in their community.

✔ Show remarkable resilience through difficult circumstances.

✔ Demonstrate outstanding sportsmanship.

✔ Inspire classmates and teammates.

✔ Step up to serve others.

✔ Make their school, team, church, or community a better place.

Big moments matter.

But often, it's the small acts of kindness and leadership that change lives.

Those are the stories we want to celebrate.

How the Program Works

Quarterly Recognition

Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed quarterly.

Each quarter, up to 2–3 recipients may be selected for recognition.

Recipients will be recognized by Presenting Sponsor Bryant Family Pharmacy and receive:

🏆 Framed YES! Award Certificate

🎁 $50 Gift Card - Presented by Awards Sponsor Arkansas Medical Staffing

📸 Recognition Photos

📱 Featured Spotlight Across EMpact One Foundation Social Media

📰 Recognition Through Local Media and Community Partners

🌐 Story Featured on the EMpact One Foundation Website

Annual Recognition

All quarterly recipients become members of the annual YES! Awards Class.

At the conclusion of the calendar year:

🎓 Two recipients will each receive a $500 Scholarship in recognition of their outstanding leadership, perseverance, service, and impact. Presented by Awards Sponsor Arkansas Medical Staffing

Presenting Sponsor