The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Youth Workforce Development Awards.
Nominations for awards are submitted by members of NAWDP, highlighting innovative work done by workforce development professionals across the United States. Categories include Youth Workforce Development Program of the Year, Youth Workforce Employer of the Year, and Youth Workforce Development Professional of the Year.
The Youth Workforce Development Program of the Year is awarded to a program that give youth and young adults the opportunity to achieve academic success, opens career pathways, and aids them in reaching their full potential. The 2025 recipient of the Youth Workforce Development Program of the Year award is Beyond the Stethoscope.
Beyond the Stethoscope, piloted in 2024, was created in response to critical challenges in the Southern New Hampshire community. After discovering that local high school students were losing interest in pursuing health careers due to a lack of exposure, Southern New Hampshire Health Systems’ Director of Workforce Development, Viktoriya Dribinskaya, collaborated with Volunteer Services Manager Kameo LeLievre to create Beyond the Stethoscope. In its inaugural year, the program received nine applications, all of whom were accepted. Now in its second year, the program has grown to 29 student applications, with 14 participating.
The Youth Workforce Employer of the Year award is given to an employer or employer consortium who collaborates with local workforce partners to open doors for youth and young adults for meaningful employment. 2025’s Youth Workforce Employer of the Year is Bayer Electric, located in southern Texas.
Through innovative programming, collaboration with Workforce Solutions Brazos Valley partnership, and a deep commitment to mentorship, Bayer Electric has provided pre-apprenticeship electrical students opportunities as a worksite host employer specifically designed for young adults aged 16 to 24. For many participants, this is a first experience with a career-oriented job, and it often leads to long-term employment with continued education. By delivering measurable results, fostering meaningful partnerships, and championing the potential of young workers, Bayer Electric has become a catalyst for elevating the youth workforce movement in their region.
The Youth Workforce Professional of the Year Award is given to a Workforce Development Professional who is making positive, lasting change in the lives of youth and young people by enabling them to reach their full potential and find viable career pathways. This award is exclusive to members of NAWDP who have been nominated by their peers. The 2025 NAWDP Youth Workforce Professional of the Year Award has been given to Dr. BJ Paige.
Dr. Paige brings over 15 years of dedicated experience serving youth across the United States. Throughout his career, he has directly supported the post-secondary transitions of thousands of youth and has trained 125 young people across five cohorts to discover and pursue meaningful career pathways. His work includes guiding 40 incarcerated youth through their reintegration journey, providing critical support as they transitioned out of detention. His work not only transforms individual lives but also enhances the public image of youth workforce development as a field that is dynamic, results-driven, and essential to community progress.
The 2025 award recipients will be recognized at the 26th Annual NAWDP Youth Symposium in New Orleans on November 17-19.
