Noah M. ’27 Receives National Youth Leadership Award for Service-Learning

Canterbury School is proud to celebrate Noah M. ’27, who has received the 2026 Youth Leadership for Service-Learning Excellence Award, presented by the National Youth Leadership Council in partnership with Points of Light.

This national honor recognizes young leaders who use service-learning to address real community needs with purpose and measurable impact. Noah was recognized for his leadership as President of AACE, Athletes Activating Champions & Empowerment, a student-led nonprofit founded in Fort Myers to help young people see their potential as leaders while empowering them to serve others.

Through AACE, Noah has helped lead initiatives supporting Title I schools, expanding access to tutoring and mentorship, addressing food insecurity, and creating meaningful service opportunities for Canterbury students throughout the community. His work reflects a belief that service is most powerful when it is rooted in relationships and dignity.

At the center of Noah’s recognition was AACE’s Thanksgiving initiative at Tice Elementary School, a Title I school serving approximately 500 students in Pre-K through fifth grade. The initiative began with an important question that guided the student leaders’ planning: how could they make Thanksgiving meaningful in a way that honored the families they hoped to serve?

Rather than designing a traditional food drive, Canterbury students worked to build connections. They researched the needs of the Tice Elementary community, considered cultural familiarity when selecting food, and included Spanish-speaking student mentors to help families feel seen and welcomed. Every student at Tice Elementary received a complete Thanksgiving meal, and the initiative also included a community Turkey Trot that brought Tice students and Canterbury mentors together in a shared celebration.

The result was more than a one-time project. The Thanksgiving initiative has helped establish an ongoing partnership with Tice Elementary, with future programming already being developed. For AACE, that continued connection reflects the heart of service-learning: listening first and working alongside a community rather than simply providing support from a distance.

AACE also provides consistent mentorship and support for vulnerable youth, including students whose families face economic hardship or language barriers. Through its local outreach and partnership with Valerie’s House, the organization works to provide stability and encouragement for children navigating difficult circumstances.

The award was presented during the National Service-Learning Conference in Washington, D.C. During the three-day experience, Noah participated in programming focused on youth leadership, service-learning, and community impact alongside young leaders and educators from across the country. He returned from the conference with new perspectives on the role students can play in creating lasting change.

Canterbury congratulates Noah on this meaningful national recognition and celebrates the impact he continues to make through AACE and his commitment to service-learning.