The Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth (AWRSAY) was formed in 2000 for the purpose of ensuring that teenagers who otherwise might go unrecognized, yet have overcome adversity, receive public praise, educational and on-going opportunities to help them achieve their potential. AWRSAY was formed not as an official organization but rather as a unique collaborative effort lead by the members of the service clubs –Rotary, Optimists, Sertoma and Kiwanis – in the Arvada and Wheat Ridge areas, and based at the Red Rocks Community College, Arvada Campus.

 Each fall AWRSAY solicits nominations for middle and high school students from both public and private schools (including faith based and home schooled), for public acknowledgement of their efforts to overcome the adversity in their lives, at the annual spring Recognition Ceremony. Any one, including the student as well as teachers, counselors, administrators, ministers, police officers, social workers, friends and family members may submit nominations. 

From the nominations received, AWRSAY members normally select 60 students, 25 seniors and 35 non-seniors, for recognition. The adversity each student is confronting and how they are choosing to deal with it is the basis for their selection. However this information is never released to any one outside the selection committee. Over the years AWRSAY nominees have been confronted by virtually all of the medical and societal problems of today’s world. These adversities have been created by both the nominees themselves and by others over which the nominee had no control.

 After the selection process is completed, nominees are assigned to a service club in their area. The service clubs encourage the nominees to attend club meetings and functions to gain a greater insight into community service, establish new contacts and to gain additional support, both personal and financial.

 Selected nominees are presented at the AWRSAY Recognition Ceremony each spring.

The Recognition Ceremony focus’s attention on each nominee by presenting them at center stage, to the audience of friends, family and service club and community members.  while their biography is read, emphasing the nominee’s goals and aspirations for the future without any mention of their adversity or how they are coping. Each nominee is then presented with Recognition Certificates and Awards by community leaders and given a commemorative photograph. Community leaders who have participated in the program include state Senators and Representatives, Mayors, City Council members, School district Superintendent and administrators, Board of Education members, and Red Rocks Community College President and administrators. Each program also features a guest speaker, who is familiar with or has experienced the adversities faced by teenagers today, to offer support and encouragement.

 Each AWRSAY nominee is also eligible to receive financial assistance. Scholarships to Red Rocks Community College in the amount of $750 are presented to 23 seniors with two Founders Scholarships in the amount of $1000 each presented to two seniors. A student who has maintained a GPA of 2.00 may renew these scholarships one time upon application. Non-seniors are eligible to apply for a one-time award of up to $500 to be used for camps, or activities oriented to developing leadership skills. If needed, each nominee attending the Recognition Ceremony is also presented with a refurbished computer and basic software.

During the first seven years of the AWRSAY program a total of 375 students have been recognized and a total of $95,000 awarded for college scholarships and leadership activities. Starting in 2006,  students also received refurbished computers.

 Participating organizations, with over 450 members, now include the Arvada Breakfast Optimist, Arvada Chamber of Commerce, Arvada Clear Creek Optimist, Arvada Jefferson Kiwanis, Arvada Rotary, Arvada Sunrise Rotary, Citizens’ Police Academy Arvada Alumni, City of Arvada, City of Wheat Ridge, HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership), Jeffco Public Schools, Jefferson Foundation, Red Rocks Community College and Foundation, Lake Arbor Optimists, Lakeside-Wheat Ridge Kiwanis, Peace Jam, Ralston Creek Sertoma, Wheat Ridge Foundation, Wheat Ridge Optimists, Wheat Ridge Rotary and business and individuals in the communities.

Working with at risk teenagers makes an evaluation of the AWRSAY program very difficult. However the successes such as influencing a youth gang member to become a successful college student, helping a potential drop out to become an exemplary police officer, encouraging a student with a severe attitude problem graduate from college cum laude are a few of the known successes which justify the expenditure of personal and financial resources required by the program.