Title
Recognition of Commerce City Nominees for Adams County Mayors and Commissioners Youth Awards
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Summary and Background Information:
The Adams County Mayors and Commissioners Youth Awards (ACMCYA) is a program that recognizes teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 who have overcome personal adversity to create positive change in their lives. The award program provides business, community, and civic leaders an opportunity to actively demonstrate their belief in and support for the young people in our communities. Award recipients are determined through a nomination and selection process. All nominees are recognized at the local level by individual jurisdictions. A selection committee comprised of representatives from the county and local jurisdictions screens all nominations and selects approximately 20 nominees to be recognized at a county-wide celebration in the spring each year.
Locally, all Commerce City nominees were recognized at a banquet on April 6th, from 6-8 p.m. at Buffalo Run. Information about each nominee, along with recognition of those selected as finalists will be read at the 4/18/16 Council meeting. Because the City hosted the banquet on 4/6/16, the nominees will not be required to attend the Council meeting (they will not be receiving certificates at the meeting). Finalists will be recognized at the county-wide celebration at Brittany Hill in Thornton on Thursday, April 28th, from 6-9 p.m.
This year's Commerce City nominees are:
DOMINIC MIRANDA:
Dominic was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer when he was 12. He has overcome numerous surgeries, Chemo, partial amputation of his foot, and the many stays in the hospital away from family, friends and life as he knew it, along with mental and physical pain from the disease. When Dominic was told that walking and running would be hard, he knew he would not be defeated. He was determined to continue playing football. In the hospital, two days after surgery, and leaving Dominic a right foot partial amputee, he gathered the courage to move forward to get up and go home.
Dominic has given speeches about cancer and his journey, helping children gather their courage to move forward and never give up hope. He continues to help many kids in the cancer world and shares his story with them. After he could not play football, he supported the team on the sidelines; he donated his time to fundraisers and even served at the fundraiser breakfast. His story was featured on 9News and in the Denver Post, which gave hope, encouragement, and optimism for a future to many children suffering from illness. It also let parents know there are people who care, there is help out there. At age 17, Dominic realizes the future has much to experience, so he is touring colleges. He credits Kids First Health Care Center for catching his tumor for his newfound aspirations to become a nurse.
ADAM TERBEST:
Adam is a senior at Prairie View High School. He has persevered through a variety of issues including major head trauma, his parents’ divorce, and multiple moves. Through all of this, Adam has maintained a very positive attitude and a never-quit spirit. He was nominated by a friend’s father. This father has seen Adam mentor his freshman son and be a positive influence on him for many years. Adam has turned out to be such a positive role model for all teens around him.
ANGELIQUE VARGAS:
Angie lived with her sister and her abusive and neglectful step mother. Although Angie was able to stay strong, her sister was not. Her sister took her own life, and this is when Angie’s depression started. Angie then started having anxiety when she believed she couldn’t go on without her sister. Shortly after this, Angie started getting bullied and it put a hold on her life, including getting bad grades. Because of this, she started attending online school. Angie realized the only way she could change her problem was to remind herself she couldn’t give up! She stopped letting bullies get to her and stood up for herself. This allowed her confidence and she started joining groups at the recreation center. Angie now participates in activities and clubs at the recreation center such as boxing and the Youth Advisory Committee. She is a leader and is always positive. Her attendance is near perfect and she is a role model in the group. In addition, Angie was selected to be recognized at the county level on April 28th. There were over 80 nominees this year in Adams County, with just 23 advancing to the county level.
Staff Responsible (Department Head): Carolyn Keith
Staff Member Presenting: Lisa Nordholt