Youth of the Year/ A.C.E. Award

One of the most popular of Exchange's youth programs, the Youth of the Year Award recognizes industrious high school students who attain high levels of scholastic achievement, community involvement, and leadership. This proven program not only rewards outstanding young people, but also provides an incentive for other youngsters to strive for equally high levels of achievement. 1st - 5th place winners for the Youth of the Year will be honored during one of our weekly meetings.

The A.C.E. award, Accepting the Challenge of Excellence, is a program that recognizes high school students who have made a dramatic change in their attitude and performance sometime during their high school years. It also includes a student who has had to overcome great physical, emotional or social obstacles and who is now eligible for high school graduation. 1st and 2nd place winners for the A.C.E. Award will be honored during one of our weekly meetings.

The Club gives out $22,500 in scholarships.

Youth of the Year winner Katie Moore is congratulated by Club President Dennis Lott.

2005-2006 Youth of the Year Award Winners (Front Row): Brady Peele (4th runner up), Woodlands High School, Addison Howard (1st runner up), Academic Magnet, Kayla Reynolds (3rd runner up), Dorchester Academy, Katie Moore (Youth of the Year), James Island Charter, and Catherine Haar (2nd runner up), Ashley Hall. (Back Row) Bill Schupp (Committee Member), Rick Lowndes (Program Chairman), and Dennis Lott (Club President).

2005-2006 Youth of the Year Award Winner Katie Moore

This year's Youth of the Year Award winner is Katie Moore from James Island Charter High School and she is undecided as to where she will be attending college in the fall. She enrolled in the School's International Baccalaureate program and was a member of the volleyball team and the cheerleading squad. She's ranked as the No. 1 student in the senior class and organized a 65-student National Honor Society service project in which members volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.

2005-2006 A.C.E. Award Winners Pictured(L-R): Runner up Casey Smith, Dorchester Academy, Club President Dennis Lott, and this year's A.C.E. Award Winner April McKnight..

This year's Accepting the Challenge of Excellence Award winner, April McKnight, attends the School of Arts, and will be attending Winthrop University this fall. She was diagnosed with cancer last year and underwent cancer treatments for 9 months. April refused to allow cancer to "break her spirit". "My main goal was to show others that faith can strengthen you through any adversity," said McKnight, who is an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church. In addition to serving as president of the church's youth action board, April sings in the choir and participates in a dance troupe. At the School of Arts, she plats the clarinet in the wind ensemble symphony orchestra and takes part in student council and French Club activities.  Through it all, she has manages to stay on course to graduate this spring.