Memphis “Beat the Odds”

Supporting the Positive Potential of Young People

Memphis “BEAT THE ODDS” Student and Youth Award

Each spring, six youth and one adult are honored with a reception, a banquet, and a special awards ceremony. At these events, we celebrate the remarkable lives of the honorees with their families, friends, teachers, and counselors who have helped them to achieve their goals. Because some of these young people have survived dramatic experiences, special care is taken to avoid embarrassing or exploiting them.

Nominations are solicited from a variety of sources--city and county schools, social services agencies, the medical community, other community groups serving children. Nomination requires documentation of grades, along with a completed nomination form, and background information. Selection guidelines for the youth award state that nominees should be:

· enrolled in school

· between the ages of 13 and 21 years old

· maintaining a grade point average that shows marked effort, improvement, or success

· succeeding despite, but not limited to, hardships such as poverty, poor health, personal/family tragedy

· participating in activities such as volunteerism, extracurricular school, religious or civic activities

Previous winners of the MBTO Award

Nominate an youth for the 2012 Memphis “Beat the Odds” Award

Cathryn Rivers Johnson Award

 

To be considered for the Cathryn Rivers Johnson Award, nominees must exhibit some of the admirable characteristics and qualities of Cathryn Johnson. Ms. Johnson was a loving, kind, humble, dedicated, loyal, spirit-filled, compassionate, vivacious, charismatic, innovative, intelligent, influential, dynamic, resourceful, and motivational person who dedicated her whole life to serving people, especially children. She was an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, never met a stranger, and was always a positive factor in each life she touched. She served young people through the WDIA Teen Town Singers, where she served as musician, through her employment for 35 years with Memphis City Schools, and through her many church activities at Salem Gilfield Baptist Church. She dedicated time and energy in molding and preparing young people to become productive citizens. Mrs. Johnson taught at Booker T. Washington High School for 32 of her 35 years. Upon retirement from the Memphis city Schools, she worked as an educational talent search counselor with Girls, Incorporated.

 

Successful candidates of the Cathryn Rivers Johnson Award must have:

· significantly influenced and impacted the life of a young person or young adult

· provided service to youth in the Memphis/Shelby County community

· assisted youth in their career development and/or

· assisted youth in their educational endeavors

Nominate an adult for the 2012 Cathryn Rivers Johnson Award

(submit online or print out and mail)