Salt Lake County Commission On Youth (COY) is a partnership of private, public and religious organizations which annually recognizes through its COY Awards individuals, teens and groups who excel in service to young people.

JoAnne Brown is one of the recipients for the 2015 COY awards for her teaching and service. She is a science teacher at Olympus Junior High who has inspired hundreds of students over the years to form teams to find solutions to community problems through science, such as recycling, water conservation, and stream and canal clean ups. Her teams, participating in the Lexus Eco-Challenges, have won this national contest for many years, earning more than $330,000 for their school and their personal college funds. 

The awards presentation was held May 19 during the Salt Lake county council meeting and was open to the public. COY is staffed and organized by Salt Lake County Youth Services and board appointed by Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams.

On May 15,  Rose Jacklin, a 15-year Bonneville Junior High School teacher, was one of 11 educators in the state this year to receive the annual Huntsman Award for Excellence in Education, or Excel Award, at a ceremony held at Little America. 

“I am so touched and humbled by the support of Holladay parents and students,” Jacklin said.

Jacklin said she feels a real sense of community at this culmination of 30 years of teaching in the Granite School District and that kids know that they are loved and cared for.  Jacklin inspires her students with unforgettable activity-based lessons that encourage citizenship and a love for country and community. Jon and Karen Huntsman presented the awards and each winner received a $10,000 check.