For the last nine years, the Brookline Youth Awards have honored more than 500 students, screening approximately 135 student video interviews at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. The event has also recognized 20 adults who have inspired young people, as well as their community, either in their roles as parents, business leaders, or social justice advocates.
The 10th Brookline Youth Awards will take place on April 14 at 7 pm at the Coolidge again. Thanks to the generosity of the Coolidge, there is no admission charge.
Nominations to the 10th Award Ceremony Still Being Accepted
The Brookline Youth Awards is an opportunity for Brookline residents to hear about the character, challenges, and dreams of its young people as well as adults dedicated to their success, through the power and intimacy of video interviews.
Anyone in the community who would like to submit a nomination is asked to write an essay about a student that person believes is worthy of emulation. There is no specific set of criteria for receiving an award. There are also no barriers to be eligible for an award other than the recipient must either live in or go to school in Brookline.
Past recipients have been recognized for their outstanding in-school and out-of-school achievements, courage overcoming adversity, or helping others do the same, displaying exceptional kindness, character, and generosity of spirit.
Nominations for the 10th Brookline Youth Awards will be accepted online until March 2
Brookline Youth Awards Honor Roll
Brookline Youth of the Year Honorees 2011-2017
2011 recipient, Lesly Suriel Guerrero
2012 recipient, Catherine Marris
2013 recipient, Ben Hoff
2014 recipient, Shirley Estime
2015 recipient, Gavin Hui
2016 recipient, Caroline Cutlip
2017 recipient, Anita Mayfield-Sheehan
2018 recipient, Sabrina Zhou
2019 recipient, Richard Desir
Starting in 2018, the Brookline Youth Awards added a new category “Youth of the Year Finalists”
2018 Brookline Youth of the Year Finalists
Carolyn Parker-F
Jocelyn Zhou
Lena Harris
Paul Miller-Schmidt
Sabrina Zhou
Vishni Samaraweera
2018 Brookline Youth of the Year
Sabrina Zhou
2019 Brookline Youth of the Year Finalists
Allison Switalski
Jackie Perelman
Jocelyn Zhou
Richard Desir
Sara Ameli Hajebi
Vishni Samaraweera
2019 Brookline Youth of the Year
Richard Desir
The Brookline Youth Awards also recognize the achievements of adults who go the extra mile for young people through the following awards.
Roger Grand Social Justice Award
The award, introduced in 2012, is named after a transcendent BHS teacher, goes out to an adult who inspires and affects young people in the area of social justice.
2012 recipient, Roger Grande
2013 recipient, Kathryn Leslie
2014 recipient, Paul Epstein
2015 recipient, Pat Norling
2016 recipient, Rene Feuerman
2017 recipient, Malcolm Cawthorne
2018 recipient, Margo Strom, and Elisabeth Dopazo
2019 recipient, Rob Daves
Ethel Weiss Service Award
The award, introduced in 2014, named after Ethel Weiss, who ran Irving’s Toy & Card shop for over 76 years, honors a businessperson who goes the extra mile for young people.
2014 recipient, Ethel Weiss
2015 recipient, Chobee Hoy
2016 recipient, Dana Brigham
2017 recipient, Abe Faber, and Christy Timon
2018 recipient, Elias Audy
2019 recipient, Bo Winiker
Suriel Guerrero Parent of the Year Award
The award, introduced in 2017, is named after Altagracia Guerrero and Mariano Suriel. Immigrants to the United States just a short time ago, the Suriel Guerrero family has gone on to become pillars of the Brookline community
2017 recipients, Altagracia Guerrero and Mariano Suriel
2018 recipient, Ginny Vas
2019 recipient, Elizabeth & Boniface Mande
The Brookline Youth Awards is founded and hosted by BrooklineHub.com. Principal sponsors include The Town of Brookline, Brookline Community Foundation, Brookline Bank, Foundation To Be Named Later, The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation, ADW Video Productions, and the Coolidge Corner Theatre.
