The 20 winners of the 2020 Arapahoe County Mayors and Commissioners Youth Awards (ACMCYA) have been announced. These annual scholarships recognize local high school seniors who have overcome personal adversity and have created positive change in their lives. The program is unique because it encompasses youth in both traditional and non-traditional classroom settings.

Each winner will receive $1000 to put toward post-secondary educational opportunities at vocational, two- or four-year schools. The candidates were nominated by non-related teachers, counselors or other educators, and they had to complete an essay describing the challenges they’ve faced and what they hope to achieve in post-secondary school.

The winners were selected by a committee of elected officials. These honors are usually awarded at a ceremony in late-April, but Arapahoe County was forced to cancel this year’s event because of COVID-related restrictions and concerns.

View the names and portraits of all the recipients on our 2020 Youth Awards page.