Do you know a teen leader?

High school sophomores or juniors who are interested in taking leading roles in their community are invited to apply for the 2012 Valley Teen Leadership program.

Applications are being accepted through Nov. 4.

Valley Teen Leadership is a highly interactive, four-month program that instills leadership skills and an awareness of community needs in emerging youth leaders from around the Valley. It is presented by Valley Leadership, a 30-year-old nonprofit organization that works to foster a strong pipeline of leadership in the Valley through year-round programming and activities designed to cultivate a thriving community and empower individuals to take action.

Interested students must complete an online application and reference form. The program will accept 50 teens and takes place from on eight Saturdays beginning January 28 and ending April 28. A graduation ceremony will be held from 6 to 8pm Wednesday, May 2. Tuition is $100; financial assistance is available.

For more information, contact Craig Plenn at 602-952-6760 ext. 4 or craig@valleyleadership.org.

Nominations sought for Nurse of the Year

Tomorrow is the deadline for nominations to the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards. The nomination process is an easy opportunity for healthcare colleagues, patients, friends and family to honor the state’s outstanding nurses.

Nurses throughout Arizona may be nominated in one or more of 14 different categories, including Academic Education, Advocacy for Patients, Clinical Education, Community Service, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Mentoring, Military, Patient Care, Prenatal/Pediatric, Research/Advancing the Profession, Rising Star, Student Nurse and Distinguished Nurse of the Year.

The March of Dimes 8th Annual 2011 Nurse of the Year Awards Gala, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and the University of Phoenix, will be held on Saturday, Aug. 27 that the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, 2400 E. Missouri Ave. This year’s theme, “Arizona Salutes Nursing,” will pay tribute to nurses throughout Arizona who continue to deliver the highest standard of care to their patients.

In its eighth year, the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards Gala was established to bring awareness to the critical nursing shortage throughout Arizona as well as support future nurses through scholarship funding. In the past six years, the March of Dimes has presented more than $100,000 in scholarship dollars to nursing colleges at Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, Maricopa County Community Colleges, Northern Arizona University, Pima Community College and the University of Arizona.

For the fourth year, University of Phoenix, in partnership with the March of Dimes Arizona Chapter, will be offering two full-tuition scholarships to nurses pursuing advanced degrees. One scholarship will be awarded to an individual pursuing an LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (LPN to BSN) and one scholarship will be awarded to an individual pursuing a Masters of Science in Nursing/Health Care Education (MSN/ED).

Nomination forms are available at marchofdimes.com/Arizona. For more information on Nurse of the Year Awards Gala, contact Nicole Moyer at 602-287-9923 or nmoyer@marchofdimes.com.

The Elontec School Diaper Challenge

The Elontec School Diaper Challenge is asking Valley schools to compete to collect diapers in support of families in need. The challenge is part of the Homeward Bound 12^th Annual Baby Diaper Drive, for which Elontec is a sponsoring partner.

The school that collects the most diapers – in sizes 3, 4, 5 and 6 – will win a Mimio Teach, an interactive system that turns an ordinary whiteboard into a technology whiteboard.

“This is a great way to foster ‘kids helping kids,’ a wonderful school- and community-building event and an opportunity to teach philanthropy and leadership in a hands-on way,” says Elontec president Ginger Clayton. “Several schools already are participating, including Candeo School, West Wing Elementary and Primrose School of Fletcher Heights.”

The challenge ends Sunday, Jan. 30.

For more information or to register for the Elontec School Diaper Challenge contact Clayton at 623-445-0055 or visit BabyDrive.org.