Nominate Your Candidate for the American Immigration Council's Immigrant Youth Achievement Award!

The American Immigration Council receives hundreds of nominations from around the country each year for its Immigrant Youth Achievement Award. The Council assembles a panel of judges which selects one individual whose personal and professional accomplishments exemplify the positive contributions young immigrants make to our nation.

By celebrating high-achieving young immigrants, and lifting up their many accomplishments and contributions, we are able to combat negative stereotypes that are sometimes attached to young immigrants in America.
The Immigrant Youth Achievement Award is presented to the winner at the American Immigration Council¡¯s annual Washington, DC Immigrant Achievement Awards in the Spring. Past honorees have emigrated from countries such as Ireland, India, Cambodia, China, and Cuba and have made contributions in literature, journalism, music, and politics.

The popularity of this award has grown significantly over the past few years, with over 200 nominations submitted in 2012. We expect an increasing number of applications this year as thousands of young immigrants come forward through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative currently being implemented by the Department of Homeland Security.

Eligibility:
• The honoree must be between the ages of 14 and 25 years of age on April 11, 2013 ;
• The honoree must be an immigrant to the United States, including those who have become naturalized citizens.
• The accomplishments of the honoree must reflect more than personal success and should have evidence of a commitment to making a positive impact in their community or the world around them;
• The honoree must be willing and available to travel (at the American Immigration Council¡¯s expense) to Washington, DC for the awards ceremony on Thursday, April 11, 2013. The American Immigration Council will cover the costs of travel and accommodations for the honoree, and for a parent or guardian if the honoree is a minor.

You may attach up to 3 supporting documents, two pages max per document. Supporting documents include resumes, news articles, essays, or letters of recommendation.

The winner will be notified and announced on this website by February 15, 2013.

To submit a nomination, please click http://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/sites/default/files/images/aic/2013_iyaa_form_final.doc to download an application form. Please e-mail all documents to Anh Ngo at ango@immcouncil.org [2]. We only accept e-mailed submissions.

Deadline: February 1, 2013 at midnight EST.