Excellence in Summer Service Awards

Congratulations to the 2024 Excellence in Summer Service Award Winners!

Across our community this past summer, a special group of young people got a unique and exceptional experience in the world of work; they spent their summer working hard to make sure that thousands of children had safe places to go every day by serving as junior camp counselors and summer staff members at youth programs all around our city that are funded by the Summer Youth Program Fund (SYPF). Through MCCOY’s Excellence in Summer Service Awards (ESSA) funded by SYPF, MCCOY gifted $1,000 awards to 25 outstanding youth workers. Youth worker submitted an application supported by their summer program leaders. These applications were reviewed by a committee which in turn selected 25 award recipients. The 2024 recipients represented high school students and college students that representing 22 different youth programs. 2024 Excellence in Summer Service Award Recipients
Anye Watson Horizons at St. Richard’s
Cooper Elkins Riley Youth Community Center
Darryn Orr Winning Experiences, Inc.
Elijah Pathak Felege Hiywot Center
Ellie Thluai Burmese American Community Institute
Emma Gaston  Jackson Center for Conductive Education
Gabriela Hernandez Felege Hiywot Center
Jack McGowan The STEM Connection
Josie Skinner The STEM Connection
Kaniya Daughtry BRAVE Music Inc.
LaKyi Herring – Jackson TeenWorks
Mackie Skinner The STEM Connection
Noah Lipscomb Camptown
Oghenetega Harte Direct Employers Institute, STEM YES! Program
Ololade Omopekun DirectEmployers Institute
Piper Hale Felege Hiywot Center
Samm Cherry MCCOY
Shelby Keely Still Waters Adult Day Center
Sidney Graham Concord Neighborhood Center
Sophia Lemus Indianapolis Soap Box Derby
TJ Bohannon Freewheelin Bikes
Tra’Shaun Jones Bloom Project
Van Sui Par Burmese American Community Institute’s Upward College Summer Scholar Program
The Summer Youth Program Fund is a partnership of 10 area grant-making bodies. It seasonally funds local nonprofits that provide much-needed safe, engaging summer fun to thousands of Marion County youth, like recreation, camping, arts, academics, college and job readiness, and cultural enrichment. For more information, visit www.summerprogramfund-indy.org.