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Garner-Hayfield High School received AARP’s $10,000 Ethel Percy Andrus Legacy Award for Innovation on Friday, April 25, in recognition of its innovative Youth Investing Energy for Leadership Development (YIELD) program.

Garner-Hayfield was selected from schools across Iowa who applied to receive the Association’s one-time award in celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2008, according to AARP Iowa State Director Bruce Koeppl. One high school from each of AARP’s 53 state and territory offices was chosen. The award is named for AARP’s founder Ethel Percy Andrus, a pioneer in secondary public school education and one of the first female high school principals in the nation.

“Garner-Hayfield is to be commended for its vision to involve local businesses and civic leaders, creating intergenerational connections and exposure to community service, and for all they’re doing to advance their students’ opportunities and choices,” said Koeppl.

The Legacy Innovation Award was created to recognize secondary education programs that promote strong minds and futures as well as stronger ties among and across generations. The two-year-old YIELD project for high school juniors has done a tremendous job in preparing students for today’s economy and their civic responsibility.

“Our community is blessed with the ability to be forward thinkers,” said Deb Quintus, Garner Asset Project Community Coordinator. “With the community’s support, students learn what it takes to organize and manage project, motivate others, work in unfamiliar surrounding, take responsibility and make volunteerism a way of life,” said Quintus.

YIELD is a joint venture of the Garner-Hayfield Community School District, the Garner Chamber of Commerce, and the Garner Asset Project, a community coalition whose vision is for youth and adults working together to build a healthy community for healthy youth. Program goals are to develop leadership skills and potential for future community participation.

Laura Priebe, a YIELD graduate and college freshman at Mankato State, stated, “YIELD helped me to grow in my leadership abilities, such as professional etiquette and building on my own personal strengths. Having a business mentor helped me to learn how to carry on a conversation that is on a professional level.”

As a result of the $10,000 grant, Quintus said this award will be designated for this particular project to ensure the YIELD program will be sustained for several years for Garner-Hayfield youth.