The City of Bristol is celebrating its 34rd Annual Bristol Youth and Prevention Leaders (B.E.S.T) Service Recognition Day on May 6, 2026 at 6:00pm at Muzzy Field. The Mayor, Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services staff, Best for Bristol Coalition and the Bristol Youth Commission will be hosting a ceremony recognizing Bristol youth who have given exceptional service to their community. Nominations will be accepted for any Bristol youth and/or youth group that have made a meaningful contribution to their school, a service agency, and/or the community.

Nominations must be filled out by an adult who supervised or benefited from the service. Please be sure to fill out the application completely. This is an award of distinction; the description of the contributions made by the youth or youth group must be clear and quantifiable.

INDIVIDUAL YOUTH NOMINATION:

• Youth who have demonstrated outstanding efforts to help others through the use of their thoughtfulness, energy, talents, skills, or personal abilities.

YOUTH GROUP NOMINATIONS:

• Youth groups whose full memberships, collectively, and without compensation, have made significant and meaningful contributions that can be quantified by the number of activities, service projects, as well as, qualify by the effect on the people being served.

FUTURE PREVENTION LEADER OF THE YEAR:

• Recognizes a youth member who demonstrates an exceptional ability to work productively within the community to reduce substance misuse and mental illness. This person shows a willingness to pursue prevention work in the future.

COALITION MEMBER OF THE YEAR:

• The Coalition Member of the Year award celebrates the BEST coalition member who went above and beyond the call of duty. This individual demonstrates passionate, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and hardworking qualities. The member is actively involved with meetings, events and other coalition duties.

CRITERION:

Hours that have been performed for credit or mandatory service projects will not be counted.

To be considered, the volunteer service needs to be performed in two of the following three areas:

• School
• Service Agency
• Community. 

The number of volunteer hours from March 1, 2025 to February 26, 2026 needs to be quantified. 

The Commission is looking for a minimum number of hours by the following school age grouping:

• Elementary School: 25 – 50 hrs.
• Middle School: 50 - 75 hrs.
• High School: 75 - 100 hrs. 

Please note, the minimum number of hours for the Youth Prevention Leaders of the Year awards varies slightly:

Future Prevention Leader of the Year:

• Elementary School: 10 - 15 hrs.
• Middle School: 15 – 25 hrs.
• High School: 25 – 50 hrs.

Please carefully document all hours.   

It is important to note that the selections will be made based on exceptional service, above and beyond the call of duty. Please include a summary highlighting their special qualities, talents, skills, and abilities, in addition to the contributions the youth has made to their community.

REQUIREMENTS:

The service should be completed from March 1, 2025 through February 26, 2026 in order to qualify.

Categories of Service:

• School
• Service Agency
• Community.

Please complete each section that applies. Complete the application fully with a description that contains concise details and use initials only when referring to the nominee(s).

The deadline for nominations is no later than 4:30 p.m. on March 27, 2026.

Mail your nomination to:

• Parks, Recreation, Youth & Community Services
• Attention: Youth Recognition Awards
• 51 High Street, Bristol, CT 06010

Email your nomination to:

• Stephen Bynum at Stephenbynum@bristolct.gov
• Subject Line: Youth Recognition Awards

Youth/youth group award recipients will be notified of their selection by April 10, 2026.

Recipients will be honored alongside their families at a special ceremony hosted by Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu the Department of Parks, Recreation, Youth, and Community Services and the Youth Commission on May 6, 2026 at 6:00pm at Muzzy Field. Nominators are welcome and encouraged to attend.

For additional information please contact Stephen Bynum at (860) 314-4690.

Youth and Prveention Leaders Awards

Awarded by: Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu, the Department of Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services and the Bristol Youth Commission

Guardian info, not applicable to groups, Communications will go through coordinators who will notify their groups.

Youth Group Nomination Membership List

Thank you for nominating your outstanding youth!