O’Connor Institute Ambassadors Civics & Debate Club - $500 Arizona Community Service Awards

Arizona High Schoolers: Join O'Connor Institute Ambassadors and Celebrate Your Community Service

Hear Different Perspectives | Join The Debate | Compete to Earn $500

The Sandra Day O’Connor Institute is recognizing Arizona high school students who are giving back to their communities.

Join our free, online O’Connor Institute Ambassador Civics & Debate Club! Share your service story, and you could be one of 25 Arizona students selected to receive a $500 award this fall! All current or new Ambassadors are eligible for these $500 Community Service Awards.

Award winners will also be invited to gather for a Sandra Day O'Connor Institute Recognition Ceremony celebrating their service, leadership, and impact across Arizona.

Join O'Connor Institute Ambassadors

Award Details:

  • Award amount: $500
  • Number of recipients: 15 Arizona O'Connor Institute Ambassadors
  • Eligibility: Current O’Connor Institute Ambassadors in grades 9-12 during the 2026-27 school year who attend high school in Arizona
  • Community Service timeframe: January 1, 2026 - October 16, 2026
A round logo with a gold silhouette in the center, encircled by the words "O'Connor Institute Ambassadors" and "The Citizen" in black capital letters on a white background.

Apply in three easy steps!

Young woman in a gray shirt smiles while holding a gray and white cat in an animal shelter, with cages and supplies visible in the background—a heartwarming scene reminiscent of the dedication celebrated by the Arizona Community Service Awards.
Two people serving food from trays to others in a kitchen, smiling while handing out plates. The setting appears to be a community meal or soup kitchen, embodying the spirit of the Arizona Community Service Awards.

Step 1 — Become an O’Connor Institute Ambassador - Free and Online!

Not yet a member? Join the O'Connor Institute Ambassadors Online Civics & Debate Club.

Step 2 — Share Your Community Service Story

Tell us how you serve your community in any meaningful way: volunteering, organizing, advocating, or supporting a cause or organization that matters to you. Share how many hours you served, where you served, and how your service benefited your school, neighborhood, town, city, or community. Your story is what sets your submission apart.

Step 3 — Celebrate Your Impact!

15 Arizona Ambassadors will be selected to receive a $500 Community Service Award based on their service and the stories they share. Winners will be announced on November 2, 2026.

Share Your Story!

Are You Eligible?

To be considered for a Community Service Award, students must:

  • Be enrolled in grades 9-12 during the 2026-27 school year
  • Attend high school in Arizona and participate as an Arizona O'Connor Institute Ambassador
  • Be a registered member of the online O’Connor Institute Ambassadors Civics & Debate Club
  • Complete community service hours between January 1, 2026, and October 16, 2026
  • Submit your community service story
As seen from above, several people—recipients of the Arizona Community Service Awards—pack boxes with clothing, bottled drinks, canned food, apples, and other supplies, reaching in and passing items to each other.
A smiling volunteer in a white shirt holds a cardboard box labeled "DONATION." Another person and food items are visible in the background, reflecting the spirit of giving celebrated by the Arizona Community Service Awards.

Need service ideas?

Consider the many places to lend a hand and volunteer:

  • Animal Shelter
  • Arts & Cultural Organizations
  • Faith-based Organizations
  • Food Bank
  • Hospitals
  • Local School
  • Political Campaign
  • Public Library
  • Senior Citizens Center
  • Sports Programs
  • Shelter Services

Want to become an Ambassador?

Join Here!

Questions:

For more information about the Community Service Awards or the Ambassadors program, visit the O'Connor Institute Ambassadors Online Civics & Debate Club or contact us at oa@oconnorinstitute.org.