The Columbus Exchange Club sponsors the Youth of the Month/Year Award to recognize hard-working high school students who attain high levels of scholastic achievement, community involvement, and leadership. Four times during the school year, each MCSD high school selects a twelfth-grade student as Youth of the Month. These nominees attend a monthly Columbus Exchange Club luncheon where they are recognized, along with the teacher whom they would like to honor. The Youth of the Month is selected through a scoring process that includes student activities, community service, grade-point averages grades, awards, and an essay on a yearly topic. The Youth of the Year is selected from the YOM students. The club's Youth of the Year advances to district competition, and ultimately, an opportunity to vie for the prestigious National Youth of the Year Award.
