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Ocoee Youth Council wins Florida League of Cities award; members report volunteer projects and scholarships

3504446 · May 25, 2025

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Summary

The Ocoee Youth Council presented a year-in-review to the commission, described service projects including a cemetery cleanup that earned a Florida League of Cities "Youth Council Excellence" award and a $500 prize, and announced that seven seniors qualified for a city scholarship program approved in December 2023.

Members of the Ocoee Youth Council presented their 2024—25 year in review to the City Commission during the May meeting, highlighting volunteer events, career-shadowing experiences and community projects.

Youth Council members described activities including toy drives with the Ocoee Police Department, a Brunch with Santa event, participation in the Martin Luther King Jr. parade, work on butterfly gardens and conservation events, career-shadowing at the fire station and utilities, and a project to clean and refresh headstones at the Ocoee Cemetery. Multiple members described the cemetery project as a service to descendants and a way to connect youth with local history.

The Florida League of Cities recognized the cemetery cleanup with its 2025 Youth Council Excellence Award; Erin Russell of the Florida League presented a trophy and a $500 check to the Ocoee Youth Council. Russell praised the council—9s planning, collaboration and service to an underserved segment of the community.

Municipal records coordinator Miranda Justice and other staff noted the Youth Council scholarship program, which the commission approved on Dec. 5, 2023. Justice said Ocoee Youth Council members are eligible to receive up to $250 per year of participation if they meet qualification guidelines; the council reported 420 volunteer hours for the 2024—25 program year and said seven seniors qualified for the scholarship. The presentation listed the seven seniors (as introduced in the meeting): Lisonbee Balam Jin (Keystone Academy and Valencia College, associate in arts), Alonzo Grama, Gunnar Patterson, Isabella Carreno, Jaden Sibbet (Legacy High School), Mariska (last name not specified in transcript), and Zaneta Arthuro (noted as a Florida League of Cities Council to College scholarship recipient and that it was her 18th birthday).

Commissioners and staff thanked the youth council for its service and congratulated members on the award and scholarship recipients.