Youth Activities Page

Search for Talent

Each year the club searches for young people in our area who wish to demonstrate their talents by performing in friendly competition. The competition involves three age divisions. The winners in each division have the opportunity to move on to competition at the Exchange Club's regional and national levels. Trophies and awards are presented at all levels.

Click here to see some of this year's competitors: Search for Talent

Teacher of the Year

Each year the club, with the assistance of each school's counselors, selects a Teacher of the Year at each of the local high and intermediate schools. Each award recipient is given a plaque and a cash prize.

Teachers of the Year are selected at the following schools:

	Newport Harbor High School
	Corona Del Mar High School
	Costa Mesa High School
	Estancia High School
	Tewinkle Intermediate School
	Ensign Intermediate School

Youth of the Year

Each year the club conducts a Youth of the Year competition at the local high schools. The object of the search is to select the most outstanding male and female all-round active students who are qualified for graduation. Winners at the local level advance to competition at the District level and, if successful there, advance to the National Exchange Club level.

Youths of the Year are selected at the following schools:

	Newport Harbor High School
	Corona Del Mar High School
	Costa Mesa High School
	Estancia High School

Awards include a plaque and a cash award:

	Local level - $ 1,000
	District level - $ 2,500
	National level - $ 10,000

Competition dead-lines are:

	Local level selections begin in January
	District level selections are made by April 1
	National level selections are made by June 1

A.C.E. (Accepting the Challenge of Excellence) Award

Annually, the club recognizes graduating high school students who have overcome a serious challenge and/or made a dramatic change in their attitude and performance some time during their high school years. These "at risk" students have often overcome great physical, emotional or social obstacles, yet most often these accomplishments have go unnoticed. Our club recognized these exceptional young people with an plaque and a cash award.

Our club A.C.E. Award recipients are recommended to the District level and can ultimately receive recognition at the National Exchange Club level.

Sunshine Special

As part of the club's wish to help the children in our area, each year the club organizes an outdoor activity for children living in a home for abused children. A typical outing would consist of a cruise of the Newport Harbor.

While the idea of a harbor cruise seems like a common experience for those of us who live and play around the ocean and harbors along the Pacific coast, many of the children on our cruises have never even seen the ocean. Additionally, these outings provide a welcome change of scenery for these "at risk" young people.

Young Citizenship Award

Each year the club makes a number of awards at local schools to reward those students who work hard at being good citizens at home, at school and in the community. The winners are not necessarily at the top of their class or the most popular, but those who have shown traits and habits that distinguishes them from their fellow students.

Science Fair Judging

Each year when Anderson Elementary school holds it's annual Science Fair, the club sends over approximately 12 members to act as judges.

Bill Wittman Award

Each May or June the club awards a plaque and monetary award to the football player at Newport Harbor High School who most exemplifies the memory of Bill Wittman. Bill Wittman is a former member and past Newport Harbor Exchange Club president who passed away suddenly while traveling.

Bill was an outstanding football player while attending high school at Newport Harbor. The club members felt it would be fitting that this annual award be made in his memory.

A Bill Wittman Awardee and Arnie Frankenburger - our Committee Chairman.