Ten Outstanding Young Americans
The Ten Outstanding Young Americans (TOYA) program is an annual award given by JCI USA (formally known as The United States Junior Chamber or the Jaycees). It is given to ten Americans between 18 and 40 years old who "exemplify the best attributes of the nation’s young people." People considered for the award are often submitted by JCI state organizations. For example, JCI Minnesota ( Minnesota Junior Chamber) has a "Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans" (TOYM) program. Similarly, the Michigan Junior Chamber has a similar "Outstanding Young Michiganders / Distinguished Service Award (OYM/DSA)" program. These recipients, as well as the nominees from the other JCI USA state organizations, are nominated to be considered for the TOYA award. Membership in the organization is not a requirement to win the award. The ten selected individuals may be submitted to JCI as nominees for the Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) program. History The concept for America's Ten Outstanding Young Men was fathered by Durward Howes, publisher of a yearly volume, "America's Young Men." Howes published in his books for 1934, 1935, and 1936, his own selections for the twelve outstanding young men in America. In the 1937 volume, he cut the list