Outstanding Young Virginians
Young Virginian - Future Leaders - Young Farmers - Emergency Medical Service

The Virginia Jaycees will honor outstanding young people between the ages of 21 and 40 through the Outstanding Young Virginians (OYV), Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF), Outstanding Future Leaders (OYFL), Outstanding Young Emergency Medical Services Responder (OYEMSR), and Outstanding Future Leader (OFL) programs.  The awards will be presented during the banquet of the November Annual Conference.  In addition to the presentation of the awards, there will be a guest speaker who is yet to be determined.The Virginia Jaycees have been dedicated to publicly recognizing Outstanding Young Virginians since 1942.  Modeled on the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce’s Ten Outstanding Young Americans program, this program gives the state organization the opportunity to recognize young Virginians who best exemplify through their activities the ideals expressed in the Jaycee Creed. 
 
Since 1954, the Virginia Jaycees have honored an Outstanding Young Farmer.  This program recognizes young farmers for achievements in agri-business as well as contributions made through the involvement in community, agriculture and other organizations.  The purpose of the award is to foster better urban-rural relations by contact between Jaycees and farmers to create a greater public interest in, and understanding of today’s farmer and their contribution to society. 
 
In 1992, the Virginia Jaycees established the Outstanding Young Emergency Medical Responder Award to honor unselfish, life-saving contributions of pre-hospital providers.  This award not only recognizes the contributions of the recipients, but honors the world’s first rescue squad, established in Roanoke, Virginia by Julian S. Wise. 
 
Finally, in 2003 the Outstanding Future Leaders category was created to recognize young people below the age of 21 for their accomplishments and leadership in the community.  The Virginia Jaycees may consider scholarships for Future Leader recipients.
 
Jaycee chapters, community organizations, businesses, and corporations throughout Virginia will submit the nominations.  The due date for nominations is August 18, 2007.  A prestigious panel of judges, which will include Jaycee members, community leaders and representatives from the programs’ sponsors, will review and select this year’s recipients.  Recipients will be recognized through a certificate and will be provided lodging, meals and admittance to Jaycee board meeting activities while attending the awards program.  In addition, the Virginia Jaycees will select one recipient in the OYV and OYF categories to nominate for the USJCC Ten Outstanding Young Americans award and the USJCC Outstanding Young Farmer Award.