Since 1994, the Municipal League of King County has invited high school-age youth to reflect upon the meaning of citizenship, then to convey their ideas in a written format - essay- or a graphic representation - drawing or collage - for entry in the Civic Scholar competition.

Submissions are reviewed by a panel of citizens who look for creativity, skill in conveying ideas, and clarity of presentation. The panel selects several students whose works merit public display, and invites these "Civic Scholars" to be honored at the League's annual Civic Awards ceremony. The winner will receive a scholarship for $1,000.

Congratulations to our 2009 Civic Scholar Neelofer Vahora!

Neelofer is a junior at Evergreen High School (HS3) and a Running Start student at South Seattle Community College. She represented the unincorporated neighborhoods of Boulevard Park and White Center on the Mayor’s Youth Council where she has coordinated youth community meetings on gang violence in the South End. Neelofer is also a founding member of the Make the Dash Count Foundation’s Seattle Youth Board. Make the Dash Count works to inspire youth in our communities to become the next generation of philanthropic leaders. There she researches grants for local nonprofits that help youth reach their full potential. She has given over 400 hours of service to these and many other nonprofit and community groups.

Civic Scholar contest will not be held in 2010.