Democracy in Action :::
Union League Club of Chicago Names “Democracy in Action Award”
Winners
LTHS senior feted at Club’s Annual George Washington Day Dinner
LTHS senior feted at Club’s Annual George Washington Day Dinner
Lyons Township High School senior A. Boyd receivde the first place
award in the Union League Club of Chicago’s annual Democracy in Action award competition.
Boyd received the award and a $2,000 prize at the Club’s annual George Washington Day Celebration on Friday, February 13, in the Club at 65 West Jackson Blvd. Chicago. This is the 122nd year the Club has marked President Washington’s birthday.
Gov. Mario M. Cuomo, who served as the 52nd governor of New York from 1983-94 and author of “ Why Lincoln Matters: Today More than Ever,” delivered the celebration’s keynote address on the weekend of Lincoln’s 200th birthday.
Gov. Cuomo’s address was a commentary on the challenges of the Lincoln and Obama presidencies and how Washington’s legacy continues to influence our democratic republic, said Nina Owen, Club president.
Owen was joined by Gov. Cuomo in presenting the Democracy in Action award to Boyd.
Illinois high school junior and senior students nominated by their teachers or advisors are recognized annually by the Union League Club of Chicago’s Public Affairs committee with the Democracy in Action award for “dedication to democratic principles, leadership and participation in civic programs that demonstrate exemplary citizenship values,” said Thomas Palmen, chair of the Union League Club’s Public Affairs committee.
“This year’s Democracy in Action competition drew nominations of many highly qualified and motivated young people from throughout the state of Illinois, which presented a welcome but significant challenge for our judges,” noted Palmen.
Boyd was cited for his creative approach to voter registration, non-partisan candidate forums, and election night broadcast coverage.
Boyd was nominated for the Union League Club of Chicago’s Democracy in Action award by Lyons Township High School faculty members because of his “zeal, creativity, leadership and initiative in stimulating student awareness of what it means to be an active citizen.”
Boyd launched a series of student voter registration drives at LT in cooperation with the League of Women Voters of the La Grange area. He assisted Paul Houston, global studies division chair, in the development and staging of a half-day program, “Legal Rights and Responsibilities for 18-Year-Olds” and was co-sponsor of the school’s Illinois Student Vote mock election that drew more than 1,000 LT students.
Boyd’s work at WLTL, 88.1 FM radio on election night also earned him the school’s nomination. According to the station general manager and language arts teacher Chris Thomas, Boyd took the station’s election night coverage to a new high compared to the previous 35 years.
“With Boyd’s hard work, preparation and research, we produced live election night coverage with reports from the Obama Rally in Grant Park, Dr. Steven Sauerberg’s campaign headquarters, Sen. Dick Durbin’s campaign event, and interviews with a number of high profile political commentators and observers.”
“Boyd also helped to transform our studios into a working television set when our coverage was simulcast live on Comcast Cable channel 99,” said Thomas.
The young broadcaster also helped implement our new CNN Radio service this year, so now we’r e able to provide local coverage and analysis but also provide our listeners with up-to-the-minute national coverage and reports as well as newscasts from the CNN Center in Atlanta, said Thomas.
In nominating Boyd, Krista Grimm, president of the League of Women Voters of the La Grange area said, he “exhibits a rare interest in non-partisan, core democratic principles. He is a true democrat (with a small “d”) at heart.”
Boyd plans to attend either Indiana University or Marquette University and pursue a degree in communications with an emphasis on radio.
Established in 1879, The Union League Club of Chicago is dedicated to its motto, “ commitment to community and country.” Through its membership, the Club has played a leadership role in numerous important social, civic and cultural issues. Club Leader Forum recently ranked the Union League Club as the best city club in Chicago.
Boyd received the award and a $2,000 prize at the Club’s annual George Washington Day Celebration on Friday, February 13, in the Club at 65 West Jackson Blvd. Chicago. This is the 122nd year the Club has marked President Washington’s birthday.
Gov. Mario M. Cuomo, who served as the 52nd governor of New York from 1983-94 and author of “ Why Lincoln Matters: Today More than Ever,” delivered the celebration’s keynote address on the weekend of Lincoln’s 200th birthday.
Gov. Cuomo’s address was a commentary on the challenges of the Lincoln and Obama presidencies and how Washington’s legacy continues to influence our democratic republic, said Nina Owen, Club president.
Owen was joined by Gov. Cuomo in presenting the Democracy in Action award to Boyd.
Illinois high school junior and senior students nominated by their teachers or advisors are recognized annually by the Union League Club of Chicago’s Public Affairs committee with the Democracy in Action award for “dedication to democratic principles, leadership and participation in civic programs that demonstrate exemplary citizenship values,” said Thomas Palmen, chair of the Union League Club’s Public Affairs committee.
“This year’s Democracy in Action competition drew nominations of many highly qualified and motivated young people from throughout the state of Illinois, which presented a welcome but significant challenge for our judges,” noted Palmen.
Boyd was cited for his creative approach to voter registration, non-partisan candidate forums, and election night broadcast coverage.
Boyd was nominated for the Union League Club of Chicago’s Democracy in Action award by Lyons Township High School faculty members because of his “zeal, creativity, leadership and initiative in stimulating student awareness of what it means to be an active citizen.”
Boyd launched a series of student voter registration drives at LT in cooperation with the League of Women Voters of the La Grange area. He assisted Paul Houston, global studies division chair, in the development and staging of a half-day program, “Legal Rights and Responsibilities for 18-Year-Olds” and was co-sponsor of the school’s Illinois Student Vote mock election that drew more than 1,000 LT students.
Boyd’s work at WLTL, 88.1 FM radio on election night also earned him the school’s nomination. According to the station general manager and language arts teacher Chris Thomas, Boyd took the station’s election night coverage to a new high compared to the previous 35 years.
“With Boyd’s hard work, preparation and research, we produced live election night coverage with reports from the Obama Rally in Grant Park, Dr. Steven Sauerberg’s campaign headquarters, Sen. Dick Durbin’s campaign event, and interviews with a number of high profile political commentators and observers.”
“Boyd also helped to transform our studios into a working television set when our coverage was simulcast live on Comcast Cable channel 99,” said Thomas.
The young broadcaster also helped implement our new CNN Radio service this year, so now we’r e able to provide local coverage and analysis but also provide our listeners with up-to-the-minute national coverage and reports as well as newscasts from the CNN Center in Atlanta, said Thomas.
In nominating Boyd, Krista Grimm, president of the League of Women Voters of the La Grange area said, he “exhibits a rare interest in non-partisan, core democratic principles. He is a true democrat (with a small “d”) at heart.”
Boyd plans to attend either Indiana University or Marquette University and pursue a degree in communications with an emphasis on radio.
Established in 1879, The Union League Club of Chicago is dedicated to its motto, “ commitment to community and country.” Through its membership, the Club has played a leadership role in numerous important social, civic and cultural issues. Club Leader Forum recently ranked the Union League Club as the best city club in Chicago.