Genesee Valley BOCES "Civis"
Recognizing Students Who Embody Civic Minds & Actions
Sixteen districts within Genesee Valley BOCES are dedicated to fostering civic-mindedness within their communities by providing students with a pathway to earning the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness. The purpose of the 'Civis' awards is to honor students/districts in our region who exhibit exceptional civic-minded qualities, take meaningful actions, and effect positive change within their communities and beyond.
Olie Olson & Clara Barton Award
Serving Those Who Serve
Recognizes the student that informed and took action to assist and enhance the lives or work of those in the community who serve or have served others. Examples include veterans, first responders, law enforcement, fire departments, and more. This student’s work exemplified a dedication to identify those in their community whose purpose is to assist others, and to augment their work to benefit their community as a whole.
Belva Ann Lockwood Award
Civic Mindset & Engagement
Recognizes the student who developed an exemplary ‘civic mindset’ during their Seal work, and raised awareness in their community to enhance the ‘civic mindsets’ of others. The student identified a local, state, or national issue and immersed themselves in acquiring knowledge about the issue, but also effectively communicated this to the larger community. Their work also enhanced the civic engagement of others in their school or community.
Seth M. Gates Award
Local Government
Recognizes the student that took informed action in their local community or county to solve a political, societal, or economic issue that the community faced. Their work involved a partnership with either local or county government to solve their identified issue. The student’s work exemplified the pillars of civic readiness and served as a model for their fellow students and citizens.
Arthur C. Parker & William P. Letchworth Award
Environmental/Conservation/Agricultural
Recognizes the student who identified an issue pertaining to environmental or agricultural issues and took informed action to affect change in their community, state, or even a national issue. The student took action to help raise awareness or create a sustainable change that enhanced conservation or agricultural foundations in their sphere.
Lulu Westbrook Griffin & Frances Willard Award
Individual Rights/Equality/Social Justice
Recognizes the student who identified a significant political, economic, and/or societal issue affecting citizens in their community, state, or nation as a whole. The student took informed action to raise awareness about the issue, but also encouraged other citizens to take their own action in relation to the issue identified.