Service Above Self nominations open

Nominations are open for the Service Above Self Youth Awards, sponsored by the United Way, Cheerwine and Rowan Rotary. Children can be nominated for kind and selfless deeds — big or small — at www.rowanserviceaboveself.com/home.aspx. Nominations are due by Nov. 8.

Every child nominated will receive an award at the presentation on Dec. 7. The ceremony will be held in Catawba College’s Keppel Auditorium and will feature music by the Knox Middle School Jazz Band.

Call 704 633-1802 for more information.

Rowan Public Library holds bookmark design contest

Each fall, Rowan Public Library hosts a Children’s Bookmark Design Contest. This year’s contest kicked off Monday and continues through Nov. 4. Children ages 4 to 11 are eligible to enter.

All entries must be done without adult or sibling assistance. All designs must be original; designs that incorporate trademarked figures will not be judged.

Contest applications can be accessed online at Rowan Public Library’s website or picked up at any of its three branches: Headquarters in Salisbury, East Branch in Rockwell or South Rowan Regional in China Grove. Completed entries may be submitted at any branch until closing on Nov. 4.

Headquarters and south branches will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day, and the east branch will be open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Bookmark Design Contest is sponsored by Friends of Rowan Public Library and offers first-, second-, and third-place prizes in three age-based categories: ages 4 to 6, 7 to 9, and 10 to 11.

First-place winners receive a $25 cash prize and will have their bookmark professionally printed and distributed by Rowan Public Library. Second-place winners receive a $15 cash prize, and third-place winners a $10 cash prize.

All prizes will be awarded at the Friends of RPL’s Winners’ reception, which will be at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the headquarters library. Winners are invited to bring their families and friends.

For more information, call the headquarters’ children’s department at 704-216-8234 or visit www.RowanPublicLibrary.org.

Entries sought for national contest

Entries are open for the third annual Varsity Brands School Spirit Awards, which celebrate the best of America’s high schools with $100,000 in awards, including a $25,000 grand prize for America’s Most Spirited High School.

The 2018 Varsity Brands School Spirit Awards will consist of 25 awards. They include the following categories: America’s Most Spirited High School, Most Spirited Athlete, Most Spirited Team Manager, Most Spirited Student, Most Spirited Pep Band, Most Spirited Choir, Most Spirited Mascot, Most Spirited Student Government, Most Spirited Superintendent, Most Spirited Principal, Most Spirited Coach, Most Spirited Athletic Director, Most Spirited Teacher, Most Spirited Athletic Trainer, Most Spirited Staff Member, Most Spirited School Counselor, Most Spirited School Tradition, Most Spirited Community Service Project, Most Spirited Booster Club, Most Spirited Yearbook, Most Spirited Graduation, Spirit of Inclusion Award, Spirit of Sportsmanship Award, American Spirit Leader Award (Cheer) and American Spirit Leader Award (Dance).

Entrants must be nominated by a student, colleague or community member. Submissions must include a 500-word essay outlining why the nominee is deserving of the award, one letter of recommendation, photos and other supporting materials demonstrating the nominee’s work.

The $25,000 grand prize award, America’s Most Spirited High School, will honor a high school that demonstrates unparalleled school spirit and community pride.

To learn more about the Varsity Brands School Spirit Awards, visit www.varsitybrands.com/awards/2018-categories.