(Virginia Beach, VA) – On Saturday, May 2, 2015, Virginia Beach Youth Opportunities Office and Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation sponsored the 37th Annual Virginia Beach’s Best All Around Awards ceremony at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The awards were presented by Mayor Will Sessoms and keynote speaker, Daniel Young, Esq. to deserving youth, adults, businesses, and organizations.
After reviewing all of the incredible nominees, the following winners were selected for their outstanding achievements:
Youth
Kayla Cancela, 1st Grade
Isabel Jenkins, 2nd Grade
Jose Milly Crawford Toledo, 3rd Grade
Oryion Terrell, 3rd Grade
Everett Bugg, 4th Grade
Deion Johnson, 4thGrade
Abbie McGuinness, 4th Grade
Logan O'Leary, 4th Grade
Rosabella Sisti, 5th Grade
Radu Stoescu, 5th Grade
Caridad (Caddy) Batista, 6th Grade
Keyon Arrington, 8th Grade
Keely Mitchell, 8th Grade
Kayla Thomas, 8th Grade
Andrew R. Roberts, 10th Grade
Alana Allbritton, 11th Grade
Jada N. Jones, 12th Grade
Katelyn Jordan, 12th Grade
Cameron White, 12th Grade
Youth Groups
Green Run Youth Leaders
Teens With a Purpose (TWP) - The Youth Movement
Virginia Beach Fire Department Explorer Program
Adults
Frank Albero, Coach - Malissia Lee Asset Builder’s Award
Anita Christian, P&R KidzQuest - C. William Boyce Youth Development Award
Karen Clevinger, Teacher, Parkway ES
Nanocie "Toni" Diggs, Principal, Parkway ES
Cpt. Dennis Hebert, VBPD 3rd Pct.
Rhan Khaim Pittman -Coach
Josh Shelton
Businesses/Organizations
Noah Enterprises
Seatack Elementary An Achievable Dream Academy
Tidewater Finance Company
Youth Career Center of Hampton Roads
Award recipients are youth who demonstrate Developmental Assets® through exceptional leadership, courage in overcoming adversity, community involvement, and advocacy for social change. Winners in the adult category intentionally and consistently build Developmental Assets® in their work with children and teens; and those recognized in the businesses/organizations category have created an organizational culture of support for young people.
The Virginia Beach’s Best All Around awards are based on the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets®, which are positive experiences and personal qualities that help young people grow up to be healthy, principled and caring adults. A complete list and description of the Assets® is available at www.search-institute.org.
Pictured are Mayor Will Sessoms presenting 6th grader Caridad (Caddy) Batista with her award, along with keynote speaker, Daniel Young, Esq.
Photo courtesy of David Hollingsworth
The Youth Opportunities Office’s mission is to promote positive youth development for all Virginia Beach youth birth to 21 years of age through collaboration and partnerships, education and training, awareness, youth civic engagement and community involvement and investment. For more information, call (757) 385-0464 (TTY: 757-711 Virginia Relay), or visit www.VBgov.com/yoo.
Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation’s vision is a balanced, sustainable and value-focused system of parks, recreation and public spaces that creates a sense of community. We are accredited by CAPRA, the certifying agency of the National Recreation and Park Association. For more information, call (757) 385-1100 (TTY: 711 Virginia Relay), visit www.vbgov.com/parks or sign up for our email newsletters at www.vbgov.com/eNews.