Paulding 4-H Wins at 2020 Dean’s Award Competition

Dallas, Ga. (June 26th, 2020) – Georgia 4-H, the state’s largest youth leadership development organization, provides opportunities for students to gain mastery of skills and knowledge and to demonstrate generosity through civic engagement. The 4-H Dean’s Awards provide Georgia 4-H’ers the chance to showcase their talent, hard work, and commitment to their community. The Dean’s Awards are very competitive and one of the highest honors Georgia 4-H members can earn. 
A Dean’s Award is presented every year in each of the following five main project areas: Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (including STEM); Civic Engagement and Citizenship; Family and Consumer Sciences; William “Bill” Edwards Award for Communications and the Arts; and James Harris Award for Leadership. First place winners receive Master 4-H’er status, a $500 scholarship, and recognition at the Georgia 4-H Day at the Capitol. It is a pleasure to announce that Paulding County 4-H’er, Juliette McKinley, was selected from a crowded field as the 2020 Dean’s Awards recipient for Civic Engagement and Citizenship.
Competitors submit a cumulative portfolio, much like a resume, highlighting their accomplishments from throughout their 4-H career. The portfolios are judged by project area experts, and high-scoring submissions are invited to participate in a separately-judged interview session. This year, the finalist interview sessions were conducted in a virtual setting due to pandemic restrictions, giving youth the chance to gain interview skills and experience with online conferencing.
Whether selected as the ultimate award winner or not, youth take pride in the completion of a Dean’s Awards portfolio because it represents years of dedication and hard work, meaningful contributions to one’s community, and considerable personal growth and development. Other local participants and projects include: Madison Clement, James Harris Award for Leadership; Nicholas McKinley, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences; and Madison Clevenger, James Harris Award for Leadership.
Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships, and community awareness. Georgia 4-H reaches more than 242,000 people annually through the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offices and 4-H facilities. To learn more about the 4-H program in Paulding County please contact the UGA County Extension 4-H Agent, Josie Davis, at 770-443-7616 or at . (top right Juliette McKinley awarded 1st place Dean’s Award in Civic Engagement and Citizenship)

2020 4-H Dean’s Award Participants: (L-R) Madison Clemente, Juliette McKinley, Madison Clevenger, and Nicholas McKinley