By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Champions of Youth Ambitions

On Sept. 8, many community groups and organizations will participate in an annual event called College & Military Day. Champions of Youth Ambitions (C’YA), a small, local non-profit, hopes you will participate, too.

This fun, free event is a chance to show your colors to where education led you in your journey. If you didn’t go to college and weren’t in the military, that’s okay, too, but share your pride in whatever path has made  you the person you are today.

If you want to show your Topper pride, or your pride for the LAMS Hawks or a local elementary school, that is great, too.

The idea really is meant to show local students that we all started somewhere. It lets them know we respect their job as students, and we were in their shoes once, too.

Maybe you want to show off a team or club that helped to build your character and mold your road to adulthood. If you are new to town, highlight a club or organization from whence you came or maybe where your college student goes to school.

The second part of that is to share with us by sending a picture of your participation. Maybe you snap an office photo, a shot with some colleagues, friends or family. They can be emailed to us at cya.org@att.net or find our Facebook page at Champions of Youth Ambitions.

Our motto is “Take A Second, Make A Difference” and you’ll find us promoting the Community Asset Awards, sending letters to local military folks serving abroad and fundraising for the senior centers with the Festival of Trees. We try to promote the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets and what young people need to thrive. If you’d like a copy, just request one from us or visit our website at www.cya-nm.org.