WODONGA Senior Secondary College captain Jacob Mildren has taken out the prestigious Youth Ambassador award from a talented list of Border youth.
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Jacob, 18, won the top award from six other finalists at the Red Carpet Youth Awards announced at The Cube Wodonga on Friday night.
Now in their seventh year, the Wodonga Council awards recognise young people who are making a difference or excelling in their field.
From 69 nominations in nine categories, 36 finalists were chosen from areas including sport, music and volunteer work. Seven contested the Youth Ambassador award.
Jacob was among 15 Victorian students – and the first from the North East in 20 years – to represent the state at the 2015 National Schools Constitutional Convention.
In 2014 Jacob was a member of the Victorian Youth Parliament, where he was Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.
“It’s very important for regional Victorians to have their voices heard,” Jacob said.
Jacob was also a finalist in the Individual Community Service category, which was taken out by Annie Jarratt.
Annie, 16, is a skilled pianist, a talented runner and often represented in academic awards. Annie volunteers with young people with disabilities at Interchange; sings and plays piano for Estia Health Aged Care residents every Monday; and at the Wodonga Squash and Racquetball Association.
Wodonga councillor Anna Speedie said she always got emotional at the Red Carpet awards about the depth of talent among Wodonga’s youth.
“Our young people are sensational; they’re leaders, they’re showing how to do things differently and they’re showing that youth isn’t an obstacle,” Cr Speedie said.
“The competition gets stronger and stronger every year; it’s about young people standing up and being heard.”
Other category winners: Group Community Service Award – Wodonga Senior Secondary Student Leadership Council; Sport and Recreation Volunteer Award – Jeremy Bahr, 17; Young Carer Award – Danni Good, 18; Apprenticeship/Traineeship Award – Ashley Carter, 19; Endurance/Persistence Award – Riley Briese, 18; Environmental Award – Sarah Thompson, 23; Performing Arts Award – Josh Lovett, 24; Visual Arts and Media Award – Lacey Smith, 23.
