Gloria Barron Prize 2021 for Young Heroes in Canada & United States ($10,000 Award and more)

Deadline: April 15, 2021

Applications are open for the 2021 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes celebrates inspiring, public-spirited young people from diverse backgrounds all across North America. Each year, the Barron Prize honors 25 outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and the environment.

Benefits

Winners receive:

• $10,000 Award: Winners each receive $10,000 to be applied to their higher education or to their service project.
• Recognition Gifts: Each winner receives a beautiful personalized plaque and recognition certificate.
• Young Heroes Materials: Each winner receives a signed copy of The Hero’s Trail by Barron Prize founder T.A. Barron, along with a copy of Dream Big, our documentary film profiling several former Barron Prize winners. Winners also receive our Young Heroes Activity Guide and Bibliography.
• Networking Opportunities: Winners are given the opportunity to connect with other Barron Prize honorees through our Young Heroes online forum.
• Media Coverage: Winners are provided with numerous media opportunities – print, television, and radio – to publicize and extend the reach of their service work.

Eligibility

The Barron Prize welcomes applications from public-spirited young people who are, on their April 15 deadline:

• between the ages of 8 and 18 (not yet age 19)
• permanent residents of and currently residing in the U.S.A. or Canada
• currently working on an inspiring service project or have done so within the past 12 months
• working as an individual to lead their service work. The Barron Prize does not accept applications from large groups of young people.

The Barron Prize does not discriminate against its applicants based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

Selection Criteria

1. Winners must have organized and led an extraordinary service activity which has clearly benefited other people or the planet we share.
   • The service activity must have been initiated and motivated primarily by the winner himself or herself.
   • The service activity cannot have been done solely to complete an assignment for school or work.
2. Winners must have:
   • demonstrated positive spirit, courage, intelligence, generosity, and high moral purpose.
   • shown initiative, tenacity, and unselfishness in pursuit of their goals.
   • accomplished something with inspirational value—something that could inspire others to make a difference.
   • done more than survive a difficult personal challenge. Their heroism must have made an impact on the world beyond themselves.
3. Winners may or may not have received recognition for their heroic work. Fame itself shall not have been a motivating factor.

Application

Applications must be completed and submitted online by our deadline of 5:00 PM MT on April 15 each year, when the system will automatically close.

1. Applications must include a letter from the Lead Reference. A Lead Reference is simply an adult advocate who has solid knowledge of the young person’s heroic activities. Examples of Lead References include teachers, librarians, school counselors, youth service officials, and religious leaders.
2. Applications must also include two additional letters of recommendation. Members of the applicant’s family cannot act as a Lead Reference nor write the other two required letters of recommendation.

Click here to apply.

For more information, visit Gloria Barron Prize.