The
Youth Community Service
Award

The Youth Community Service Award honors young people for meaningful service completed within their local communities.

This award recognizes youth in the very communities they have served and celebrates their commitment to civic engagement and social responsibility.

Equivalent in prestige to the President’s Volunteer Service Award, the Youth Community Service Award serves as a credible recognition of service for colleges, universities, and employers. Award recipients are formally recognized for their contributions to the community across Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

Eligibility

Open to all youth in kindergarten through grade 12 living or attending school in either Santa Clara or San Mateo Counties. Service must be completed within 12 months prior to applying for the award.

Award Levels

Hours Served in the Community in a 12-month period

Grade of Recipient

50 hours

Kinder - 5th

75 hours

6th-8th

100 hours

9th-12th

What Counts As Service?

Most generally, service does NOT include any of the following to be approved for the Youth Community Service Award:

  • Donating funds

  • Political lobbying (non-partisan voter registration is an eligible activity)

  • Religious instruction

  • Conducting worship services

  • Proselytizing

  • Volunteer service performed as part of a court order

  • Serving only family members


Still unsure if your service counts? For more details, check out the guidelines.

How Do I Apply?

All applications will be processed through the YCS Do Service Platform. Here are the steps for applying:

  1. Create an account on the Do Service Platform if you do not already have one.

  2. Track your service hours by clicking “Add Hours” at the top of the navigation bar. See the tutorial on how to add hours on our FAQ page. 

  3. Once you have reached your service hour goal and they have been entered into the Do Service Platform, you can apply for the award by submitting this application through the Do Service Platform.  Please remember that the hours must be within a 12 month period, and hours completed prior to that will not be eligible for service hours. 

  4. If you have any questions, please contact register@youthcommunityservice.org 

Service Award Application Periods

Winter 2025-26 Youth Community Service Award

Spring 2026 Youth Community Service Award

Summer 2026 Youth Community Service Award

Fall 2026 Youth Community Service Award

Open from Jun 1, 2026 - Aug 31, 2026

Notifications from YCS by Sept 30, 2026 

Open from Sep 1, 2026 - Nov 30, 2026

Notifications from YCS by Dec 31, 2026

Open from Mar 1, 2026 - May 31, 2026

Notifications from YCS by Jun 30, 2026

Open from Dec 1, 2025 - Feb 28, 2026

Notifications from YCS by Mar 31, 2025

* Example of Service Period Eligibility:

If the service begins weekly in August 2025 and is completed in July 2026. The application can then be submitted either during the Summer Application Period or the Fall Application Period.

Support The Work

Please help us continue to recognize youth who have made a meaningful contribution to their community through service by making a donation to cover shipping and processing costs. A donation of $20 for each award helps us to continue to offer this service to the community. You can make a donation by clicking the button below. 

Donate to YCS