Citizen of the year and caring youth awards

Individuals who:

• Live in Shoreview
• Possess and demonstrate a generous community spirit
• Are a role model in the community and raise the standards of social responsibility  

Anyone can apply! 

Items that are considered as part of the nomination:

• City affiliations and organizations
• Affiliations with nonprofit organizations or volunteer groups that benefit the community
• Individual contributions that benefit the community

2025

A long-time Shoreview resident, Gene has truly made our community his home through his incredible dedication and service. He's served on the human rights commission for the past 11 years, where his leadership and compassion have helped shape important local initiatives. He also lends his time and expertise to a number of other organizations including Ramsey County Charter Commission, Face2Face, Association of Non-smokers-MN, Shoreview Community Foundation, and many more.

2024

Carol Brown-Mills has been giving back to the community for over three decades both as an educator and in her volunteer work. She's served on the Shoreview Community Foundation for six years, as well as volunteered with a number of musical or theatre productions including the Merry Minstrels, Mounds View Community Theatre, Peace Praise Singers, Shorewind Quintet, and many others.

2023

John Suzukida has been working to leave a better Shoreview for generations to come thanks to his passion for environmental stewardship. John was a long-time member of the environmental quality committee where he helped with energy efficiency initiatives. In addition to the EQC, John has volunteer with many other organizations including the Shoreview/Arden Hills Rotary Club, Fishing for Fun, Metro CERT, Small Sums, and Shoreview Area Youth Baseball.

Students must:

• Meet the criteria in one or more of the categories below
  • This does not include paid positions
• Live in Shoreview or volunteer in or on a program that benefits the Shoreview community
• Be in grades 9 through 12

Categories:

Anti-bullying efforts

• Creates a welcoming environment for all
• Speaks up to prevent bullying
• Protects themselves or others from bullying
• Examples:
  • Speaking to school leaders about issues in our schools
  • Creating an avenue where people can discuss potential bullying or mental health issues (The Bandana Project)

Arts and creativity

• Improves others' lives through imaginative skills and originality in: 
  • Acting 
  • Dance 
  • Music 
  • Visual arts 
  • Writing
• Examples:
  • Participating in a school or community theater production
  • Creating artwork for the mental health walk or other school/community events

Community involvement

• Volunteers to meet a need in the community through: 
  • Action
  • Education
  • Advocacy
  • Service
• Examples:
  • Volunteering at a library, school, food shelf, etc.
  • Educating others about important topics such as tobacco use/teen vaping

Courage

• Stands up for beliefs and values that promote an equitable and inclusive community
• Takes action in difficult situations to make a difference
• Examples:
  • Organizing walks or protests to speak out about an issue such as mental health
  • Speaking to school leadership about a particular issue such as harassment 

Diversity awareness

• Values diversity through:
  • Action
  • Awareness 
  • Education
• Examples:
  • Participating in a student union or creating a space for marginalized groups to address concerns 
  • Educating others about certain topics such as racial inequality or lack of empowerment for minority groups

Environment

• Leads awareness efforts on environmental issues
• Promotes actions that lead to community sustainability
• Examples:
  • Informing others on how to be more eco-friendly such as creating posters or hosting info sessions
  • Participating in environmental clubs by implementing initiatives that aim to change a space to be more environmentally friendly (i.e. planting a community garden, planting trees)

Anyone can apply. You can submit this application for yourself or someone else. 

If you are completing this application for yourself or your child, submit:

• The online application
• One letter from yourself that describe your (or your child's) volunteer activities and how you believe they positively impact the Shoreview community
• One letter of recommendation that describes the following. This can be written by anyone in the community.
  • How they know you and for how long
  • Your volunteer activities and character. This can include any special attributes or challenges that sets you apart.
  • Your contributions that have positively affected people or programs in Shoreview. Include any information about how much time, energy or skill is involved.

If you are completing this application for someone else, submit:

• The online application 
• A one-page letter with the following information:
  • How you know the student and for how long.
  • The student's activities and character. Include any special attributes or challenges that sets this student apart.
  • The student's contributions that have positively affected people or programs in Shoreview. Include any information about how much time, energy or skill is involved.

2025

Charlie won for his community involvement and diversity awareness efforts. Charlie's commitment to service grew from helping neighbors as a child to becoming a deeply engaged community leader in his senior year of high school. He provided mentorship to young bowlers in the junior league, served on the Shoreview Community Foundation, and made a meaningful impression at school through tutoring and curriculum updates.

2024

Zoe Buzan won for her community involvement. Zoe is using her love of nature, art, and education to give back to to the community. She's volunteered with the Silverwood Teen Arts Council and as a Junior Assistant Naturalist at Tamarack Nature Center for the past two years.

2023

Ellen Guo won for her arts and creativity, community involvement, and diversity awareness. As a long-time volunteer, Ellen created a high school coding club and middle school coding camp. She used both of these programs to provide a space to discuss larger concepts like how the gender and racial gap in computer science affects their community.