In September, the New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Awards Advisory Board was pleased to announce that Alliance of Youth Leaders in the United States (AYLUS) has been selected as a Medalist for the 2021 New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Awards. This recognition is based on extraordinary volunteer service offered by AYLUS during the past three years.
The award’s origin traces back to 1972, when former First Lady of the United States Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft Jr., and social entrepreneur & public servant Samuel Beard founded the Jefferson Awards Foundation and established the Jefferson Awards, an American Nobel Prize for public service and youth leadership training.
The awards platform focused on extraordinary achievement in public service, the Jefferson Awards have consistently celebrated elevated and recognized individuals who build better communities and contribute to better a future for those around them. Receiving a Jefferson Award places the nominees among the most distinguished individuals in America as part of our national community of service.
The Jefferson Awards are given at both the national and state levels. Honorees of the New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award “achieve measurable community impact and represent outstanding acts of public service, without the expectation of recognition or compensation. Recipients demonstrate unique vision, dedication and tenacity of heroic proportion and serve as inspiration for others.”
The NJ Governor’s Advisory Council on Volunteerism and Community Service is a board of Volunteer community and civic leaders who provide guidance to the Governor and Secretary of State on increasing the level of volunteerism and community involvement in the State of NJ.
The Awards Judging Committee is comprised of NJ Governor’s Advisory Council on Volunteerism and Community Service members, previous Awards honorees and nominator, as well as community partners. From hundreds of nominations, those few that rose to the level of service meriting special recognition in each category were named Honorees and will receive certificates, signed by Governor Murphy, in recognition for their service. There are multiple Honorees in each category. Among the Honorees in each category, one is identified to receive a Medal/Trophy at the 2021 ceremony. Often the judging panel have been greatly moved by the nominations and that in many categories it is difficult to determine the medalist among so many worthy nominees.
Governor Philip Murphy and Secretary of State Tahesha Way congratulated the awards recipients for exemplifying the spirit of volunteerism and service to the Great State of New Jersey. They are the brightest examples of “Those that can do, do. Those that can do more, volunteer.”
On Sunday, September 12th, from 1 PM to 3 PM, the AYLUS Founder and President Cassie Tammy Wang, also a senior student of the West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South, was invited to the 2021 New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Awards presentation ceremony at Grounds for Sculpture (80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton Township, NJ 08619), and represented our category peers in the media campaign promoting volunteerism in New Jersey. It was a good opportunity for Cassie to promote AYLUS in front of hundreds of community leaders from all across the State of New Jersey.
As the Medalist for the Youth Volunteer Program/Group Category, in response to the COVID pandemic, AYLUS members led by President Cassie Tammy Wang have donated over 10,000 masks, 3,000+ of 3D Printed Face Shield Frame and Shields, 4,000+ ICU-grade gowns to anesthesiologists & physicians, and collected gently used iPads for ICUs, so patients could stay connected with their families. They also created heartfelt videos, hundreds of thank-you card and art show paintings at Princeton Medical Center to honor and to express gratitude towards those on the frontline.
“This acknowledgment is really an honor to our hundreds of youth volunteers,” said Cassie. “None of the work of the Alliance of Youth Leaders in the United States would be possible without the time, efforts, and hearts of our community members who support our mission: Save a Life. This Jefferson Award belongs to all of them as well.”
Standing along with the adult award winners who have volunteered for many years even lifetime, Cassie was so proud and inspired. For sure, Cassie and her members will continue their wonderful AYLUS journey of volunteerism.