A lot of attention is given to the young people who get into trouble or underachieve in school, but often the students who do exceptionally well in the classroom or make a huge difference in their community do not receive the recognition they deserve. That’s why LPB and the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge created the Louisiana Young Heroes Awards. Now in its 15th year, the awards honor students in grades 7-12 who have excelled in the classroom, have served their community or have shown great courage in overcoming adversity in their own lives.

Nominations were taken for the 2010 Louisiana Young Heroes Awards. Students had to be enrolled in a Louisiana school or homeschooled and could not be older than 19 years of age.

Some of our previous Young Heroes have overcome physical handicaps, raised money for charity, cared for family members, assisted hurricane victims, and even saved lives.Watch for Letters of recognition and other supporting materials should be sent to support the nomination. Students who have been nominated in past years may be re-nominated for this year’s awards. Previous winners are not eligible. The deadline for entries was Friday, February 12, 2010. Winners were announced on LPB on Friday, March 5, 2010.

Young Heroes Day was April 21, 2010. The Young Heroes enjoyed a day full of activities including lunch on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion. The day culminated in a banquet that night at the Crowne Plaza in Baton Rouge.

The awards were co-presented by the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge and underwritten by Credit Bureau of Baton Rouge, Inc. and ExxonMobil.