The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award USA

“We thank Buffy for her incredible passion and partnership in our work together to help young people become #worldready,” shares Board Chair Ryan S Ruskin. After 7 and a half years leading Award USA, Elizabeth Higgins-Beard will be stepping down from her leadership post as CEO this spring. Lisa Metzger-Mugg, Ph.D. has been named as interim CEO. The Board is undertaking a national search. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/gy8iZkUJ

Award USA sends its congratulations to Awadhi Saxena for her MBA finish at Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management. We are grateful for her help building our Governance Board lifecycle, improving our Board self-evaluation, and working to support us as we launch the Business Plan towards 10,000 - seeing significant scaling in the USA.  Learning from a year of deep Board and agency reflection and utilizing the resources of Kellogg Board Fellows is helping us take our mission ahead to more US based 14-24 year olds, partners, and communities.  Thank you Awadhi! #worldready #boardready Pictured: Elizabeth Higgins-Beard CEO, Ryan S Ruskin Board Chair, Awadhi Saxena, Lisa Metzger-Mugg, Ph.D., VP.

"The Award was structured to teach me to invest in myself and to invest in others." This key insight was shared at our winter Night of Discovery at The Field Museum by Silver & Bronze Award Holder, Rachel Spahn. In receiving an Alumni Commendation, Award USA was recognizing the ways which Rachel has continued to serve as an Ambassador for the Award. Rachel shared how the Award has shaped her interest in Arabic as her minor at Northwestern University and has propelled her towards a career focused on human migration in Jordan. Our thanks to those who shared in the evening including our guest speaker, British Consulate-General Chicago, Consulate to Chicago and the Midwest the Honorable Alan Gogbashian, and Board Chair, Ryan S Ruskin. Our further gratitude to the British American Business Council, Chicago our in-kind, sponsor and to The Field Musuem, for access to the First Kings of Europe exhibit. John Murphy, Naomi Kent, Jon Butcher, Gus Noble OBE , Christopher Augmon, British International School of Chicago, Heike Spahn.

How does a youth program know its impact matters? The Award globally is pioneering use of Social Return on Investment proving how it is: • improving health • reducing poverty • enhancing social cohesion • contributing to sustainable development. Join us in celebrating our global partnership with the World Bank’s @S4YE_Coalition Impact Portfolio, the first Non-Formal Education/experiential learning partner.

Congratulations to the families and young people who joined the Newark Public Schools launch event! Alumni Award Holder Gwen Allen shared her inspiring story. Over 100 young people are starting their awards in the district! Newark Public Schools in Newark, New Jersey, in the Tristate (NYC area) are launching the Award in four high schools. This large urban district has over 37,000 students and is known for its innovative approach to high schools tied to skills for the future. The Award helps young people be #worldready and is excited to see the program starting in this community. #partnerships #AwardUSA Newark Early College High School @Newark School of Data and Information Technology @Newark Science Park High School @Newark Technology High School Thanks to Assistant Superintendent Dr. Maria J. Ortiz, Sandra Marques, Principals: darleen (boop) gearhart, Edwin Reyes, Dr. David Cutts, Dr. Liana M. Summey, Ed.D & the NEWARK BOARD OF EDUCATION. 

Empowering young people to find their #infinite potential is part of the fabric of the Award. Whatever challenges you face, take inspiration in the words of #MLKJr: "We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope." #worldready #MLKDay2024 #inspiration

We applaud Ethan who earned his Duke of Edinburgh’s Award through the Award USA office open award center. He made many connections perfecting speech giving and earning admiration while volunteering at a local Senior Center. Happy belated Ethan Klenofsky day!

We’re #hiring a new Finance & Operations Director in Chicago, Illinois. Apply today or share this post with your network.

Award USA #InternationalVolunteerDay is Dec 5. Beforehand we are challenging our Award Centers, alumni, supporters, and volunteers to get out, give back, and tell us what you did on social! Got plans? Share them. Then shout about it tagging us @theawardusa

We've been rated at their highest ranking of 4-stars by @Charity Navigator, which means our donors can #GiveWithConfidence knowing that we have been independently evaluated for being effective. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gZbjW3fS.