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APEX reaches 15-year milestone celebrating youth

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Taber Times

Trevor Busch
Taber Times
tbusch@tabertimes.com

Showcasing greatness in the region’s youth, the 15th annual APEX Youth Awards are set to grace the stage for another year on April 13.

Hosted at the Taber Community Centre Auditorium and sponsored by the APEX Committee and The Taber Times, this year’s event features 12 youth nominees, hailing from Taber, Vauxhall and Grassy Lake, among others.

The APEX Awards were developed to recognize individuals who represent the best qualities in Taber and area youth, who unselfishly give of themselves in the service of others.

“Far too often the youth of our communities are not given the recognition they deserve,” said Coleen Campbell, an APEX organizer and publisher of The Taber Times. “Currently there are many academic as well as athletic awards for our youth, but there is a large group of children and young adults who don’t fit into either of these two award categories, and yet they are offering a lot for the betterment of our communities. Let’s face it — growing up as a kid today is not an easy task. But there are individuals out there who strive above the rest to make life for themselves and those around them better. The APEX Youth Awards were created to recognize these outstanding individuals.”

All 12 nominees will be recognized at the banquet and four will be presented with $1,500 bursaries that are sponsored by four local businesses (Legacy Dodge, YPM, Grower’s Supply Ltd. and EPCOR). Two others will be honoured as runner ups.

In 2002 the APEX Youth program started as a partnership with the Taber Rotary Club and The Taber Times, but when the original Rotary Club of Taber disbanded in 2008, concerned community leaders felt the APEX program was important enough to continue.
Together, they formed the APEX Committee and along with The Taber Times have continued to organize the event.

Over the past 15 years the APEX Youth Awards have recognized and celebrated the contributions of over 328 young people who have made a difference in their community. With the continued support of local business, there has been $90,000 in bursaries given to 60 APEX winners.

“We have a great group of young people in our communities and our program has done what it set out to do — honour good kids who are making life better for those around them,” said Campbell. “Hard work, perseverance, volunteerism, compassion — all of these qualities are embodied in the character and actions of our exceptional 2016 APEX nominees.”

The banquet is made possible by the generosity of the local business community. Their contributions allow all the nominees and two members of their families to attend at no cost.

Tickets are available by contacting The Taber Times at 403-223-2266. Cost per ticket is $45. APEX nominee profiles are available in a special supplement in today’s edition of The Taber Times.

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