Spirit of the West awards hand crafted by Rich Welding. Courtesy photo

COMMUNITY News:

The Community Assets Awards program is seeking nominations for its annual recognition event in January.

The program recognizes youth, adults and senior citizens, as well as individuals, businesses, clubs and organizations for doing good deeds in and around the community.

“We started the fiscal year with no funding for this event,” Coordinator Bernadette Lauritzen said. “It is one of the most important community activities we do here and with some time and energy directed to fundraising, I am determined to see it through on any budget.”

Last year, approximately 45 different awards were distributed, with the big award of the night going to Los Alamos High School students Faith Glasco and Liz Hjelvik for their work to reduce tough times for their fellow students. The one thing all of the award recipients have in common is they don’t know who nomintated them until the event.

“We have many community members recognized for doing local deeds, some for doing regional and state work and occasionally someone rising to the national and international levels,” Lauritzen said. “We already have five nominations submitted and we will be alerting the nominees soon.”

This project for Assets In Action is supported by the Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation and Champions of Youth Ambitions (C’YA). A coin collection held during the month of September with the help of local businesses, worked to help fund the annual program.

Nominations can be madethrough 5 p.m., Dec. 22. To obtain a nomination form, email www.cya.org@att.net or call 505.695.9139. Those nominated for an award will be notified after Dec. 22. Donations to support the Community Asset Awards program can be sent to 77 Isleta Dr., in white Rock.