The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, a program of the nonprofit organization Young Heroes Project, celebrates inspiring, public-spirited young people from diverse backgrounds all across North America.

Each year, the Barron Prize honors 25 outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and the environment.

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Prize

Eligibility

The Barron Prize welcomes applications from public-spirited young people who are:

• between the ages of 8 and 18 (not yet age 19)
• Also, permanent residents of and currently residing in the U.S.A. or Canada
• currently working on an inspiring service project or have done so within the past 12 months
• In addition, working as an individual to lead their service work. The Barron Prize does not accept applications from large groups of young people.

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Selection Criteria

1. Winners must have organized as well as led an extraordinary service activity that has clearly benefited other people or the planet we share.
   • The service activity must have been initiated as well as motivated primarily by the winner himself or herself.
   • The service activity cannot have been done solely to complete an assignment for school or work.
2. Winners must have:
   • demonstrated positive spirit, courage, intelligence, generosity, and high moral purpose.
   • shown initiative, tenacity, and unselfishness in pursuit of their goals.
   • Also, accomplished something with inspirational value—something that could inspire others to make a difference.
   • In addition, done more than survive a difficult personal challenge. Their heroism must have made an impact on the world beyond themselves.
3. Moreover, winners may or may not have received recognition for their heroic work. Fame itself shall not have been a motivating factor.

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Application Requirement

1. Applications must include a letter from the Lead Reference. A Lead Reference is simply an adult advocate who has solid knowledge of the young person’s heroic activities. Examples of Lead References include teachers, librarians, school counselors, youth service officials, and religious leaders.
2. Applications must also include two additional letters of recommendation.
3. Members of the applicant’s family cannot act as a Lead Reference nor write the other two required letters of recommendation.

Timeline

• January 2022: Call for Application
• 15 April 2022: Application Deadline
• Early September 2022: Winner Notification to Applicants
• Mid-September 2022: Winner Announcement via the website and social media