THE EAGLE OF THE CROSS AWARD

The Eagle of the Cross award is given annually to outstanding juniors and seniors in high school within the Diocese of Youngstown who show particular zeal in the improvement of their own parish ministry programs, high school ministry teams, or youth work in general within the Diocese.

Nominees must be practicing Catholics, and must exemplify the qualities of moral integrity, prayer, good works, and Catholic-Christian leadership.  This award was created by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, and is the highest honor presented to the youth by the Diocese of Youngstown.  Up to 3 awards per county for parish involvement, and up to 2 awards per diocesan Catholic high school are awarded each year. “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you” (Matthew 6:3-4). 

2025 Official Nomination Form (PDF)

2025 Official Nomination Form (Word)

The Office of Youth and Young Adult Accompaniment is currently working on updating this webpage to list the breakdown of Award Recipients and Nominations since 1999. Please visit this link in the meantime to read about all the awesome teens who have received this award throughout the years! 

FAQs

Q. Who is eligible to receive the Eagle of the Cross?

A. Any junior or senior in high school whose nomination exceeds the 22-point minimum score (nominations can receive up to 30 points)

Q. Who nominates?

A. It has always been the case that any adult can nominate an individual for Eagle of the Cross. Nominations may be submitted by any adult (i.e. pastor, parish leader/staff, school faculty/staff, friend of the family, etc.) who has personally observed the teen and can attest to his/her Catholic-Christian leadership. Multiple nominations for a nominee will be judged together based on a point system.

Q. How are Eagle of the Cross nominations judged? 

A. By a point system implemented in 2023 by the Office of Youth and Young Adult Accompaniment and the Youth & Young Adult Ministry Advisory Council. The maximum number of points a teen can receive is 30 per nomination – 5 points for each of the 6 questions. It is required that the teen must accrue at least 22 points to be eligible for the award. Each county can be awarded up to 3 awards and each school can be awarded up to 2 awards. This does not mean a Catholic High School is guaranteed 2 winners, nor is each County guaranteed 3 winners. Judges will take the top 3 candidates per county and the top 2 per school that surpassed the 22-point minimum score. Please note that not only is the nomination judged by writing quality and examples, but also by personal testimony of those who know the nominee well.

Q. What is the purpose of Eagle of the Cross?

A. The purpose of Eagle of the Cross is to recognize and honor outstanding teen leaders in the faith throughout the Diocese of Youngstown.

Q. How does my child apply for Eagle of the Cross?

A. You do not apply to this award. The Office of Youth and Young Adult Accompaniment is passionate about making sure it is well known that the award is NOT meant to be a resume booster or form of personal recognition at all whatsoever. The goal of those who judge Eagle of the Cross on a yearly basis is to pinpoint not only the good works that the candidate/nominee does, but to honor them for their character, which should possess some element of the virtue of humility, as communicated in written nominations.

Q. Does the Eagle of the Cross recognize quantitative hours of service?

A. No. This award is not geared towards quantitative hours of service, as ministry and service cannot often be quantified. This award is geared towards the morality, character, and integrity of the individual as perceived as an outstanding Catholic Christian, even when his/her good works go unnoticed or unseen, as expressed in this nomination. The award recognizes teens who go ABOVE and BEYOND the expectations of their parish/school communities, as well as the Five Precepts of the Church. Answers to the essay questions on this form are the principal material used for judging. Please give specific, thorough, and distinct examples in all 6 categories. The more descriptive the information is, the more helpful it is to the judges. For example, the judges are very interested in reading about the intention behind what the candidate/nominee does rather than what exactly s/he does.

Q. You’re saying that I should have a background of what the Five Precepts of the Church are and consider if the individual I want to nominate fulfills these to the best of my knowledge. What are the Five Precepts of the Church? 

A.

• Candidate goes to Mass every Sunday, as well as all Holy Days of obligation
• Candidate utilizes the Sacrament of Confession at least once a year
• Candidate receives the Eucharist at least once a year during the Easter season
• Candidate observes all days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church
• Candidate helps to provide for the needs of the Church through their time, talent, and/or treasure

Q. How many times can a teen receive this award?
A. Once. If you won as a junior in high school, you cannot be nominated and win again as a senior in high school.

Q. What is the preferred method of filling out the nomination form?

A. It is strongly encouraged that the nomination is TYPED. This allows for the nominator to add more than just 3-4 sentences of information per question. There is always a chance that if the nominators’ handwriting is illegible that the nomination will not be able to be considered, as the judges are unable to read them.

Q. How do I know in which category (“County” or “School”) to place my nomination under? 

A. The category in which the nominee is most involved and engaged in activities involving his/her Catholic faith. If the individual is nominated in the Catholic High School Category, please note non-mandatory activities/service, as this award honors those students who go above and beyond the mandatory expectations and requirements. Additionally, the teen should be registered at and actively participating at a Catholic parish. The parish at which the teen is registered and the parish at which s/he participates most is encouraged to be, but does not have to be, the same.

Q. Who gets invited to the Eagle of the Cross awards ceremony?

A. Letters are first sent to recipients of the award to congratulate them and request their RSVP for the ceremony. Recipients have the opportunity to personally invite a set number of important individuals (family members, close friends, their nominator, etc.). The Office sends letters to the President/Principal of any Catholic High School who has a recipient, and the recipient’s parish pastor. It is the CHS President/Principal, and Pastor’s, responsibility to communicate this information with the appropriate parties, such as the Associate Pastor/Parochial Vicar, CHS Chaplain, and CHS Campus Minister. 

Q. If a nominee receives multiple nominations from different people, does this increase the chances of the nominee winning the award?

A. No. If there are multiple nominations submitted for the same person, the judges make the executive decision to choose to judge the nomination which they feel is best written (i.e., provides the most amount of evidence that the individual is most worthy of this award). If there are several adults who want to nominate the same individual, it is encouraged that they all band together to submit one solid nomination for the candidate which demonstrates his/her involvement/leadership in many different areas of his/her life.

Examples of Effective Nomination Answers

1. How does this young person contribute to parish or school programs? (Highlight most of the teen’s contributions, but feel free to add other examples as well.) Is this person involved in parish/school programs–youth/campus ministry, liturgical ministry, service, peer ministry, prayer groups, etc.? Does this person demonstrate leadership in these activities? How so?

Helpful: Joanna trained as a peer minister at her high school so she could help others who have been bullied and marginalized to feel accepted and be reminded of how important they are.  She is also a lector, choir member, and leader in her parish youth Bible study group.

Not helpful:  Joanna is a gifted pitcher on the school softball team.

2. In what ways is this youth involved in personal outreach to the larger community/Diocese?

How involved is this person in serving the wider community through service and justice initiatives?  How often does this person participate in any diocesan, regional, or national/international programs (Ex: NCYC, mission/service trips, Chrism Mass, etc.)?

               Helpful: After returning from a great experience at a mission trip in Kentucky, José encouraged his group of friends to join him each Friday after school to assist elderly and handicapped persons in his neighborhood.  They did yard work in the fall, and helped shovel snow in the winter.

Not helpful:  José fulfilled his 40 hours of service requirement for school.

3. In what ways is the prayer and spiritual life of this young person evident? How active is this person in their Catholic faith?  Is it evident that he/she is pursuing Christ and developing a relationship with Jesus? Is he/she developing spiritually? How so? Does s/he engage in spiritually-focused experiences, encounters, and programs?

Helpful: After voicing to me how he sensed the Holy Spirit nudging him, Donovan asked his priest last year if he could train to be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion for the parish.  Since Donovan was trained and commissioned, he is always present for his scheduled Mass and distributes the Holy Eucharist with great reverence and joy.  This year, he began taking Communion to his homebound neighbor.

Not helpful:  Donovan goes to Mass.

4. How does this person demonstrate moral integrity? In what ways is it evident that this person adheres to a code of moral conduct and ethical judgment based on the values of the Gospel?  How does she/he demonstrate that he/she is sound and rooted in his/her faith and beliefs?

Helpful:  Sophia displays moral integrity by reminding her friends and acquaintances that she will not participate in or listen to gossip, and gently gives them good reasons why she does not when they inquire.  It is important to Sophia to see the good in others, and this is evident in the way she compliments others for their good deeds, and encourages them to continue to act that way.  She uses social media for the common good, as she often posts inspirational pictures with Scripture verses or quotes from saints in the caption.  I overheard her turn down an invitation to a party when she learned that drinking would take place.

Not helpful:  Sophia is a great person who is always happy and smiling.

5. In what ways does this young person exhibit Catholic-Christian Leadership? Does this person promote and model gospel values for others, especially his/her peers?  What are some examples of this teen leading others?  (Highlight leadership roles taken throughout his/her experience.)

Helpful: It was discerned that Delaney served as a co-director of the parish youth retreat as a high school junior last year; she was humble, organized, punctual, and prayerful in the way she spoke and carried herself.  She made sure that every meeting began and ended with prayer and on-time. She also gave an honest and inspirational witness talk, sharing a number of ways in which she experienced God’s love throughout her story. Her peers seemed to be truly inspired by her story and maturity, and she was asked to serve as co-director again this year as a senior.

Not helpful:  Delaney played the role of the Narrator in the school musical, and is in Spanish Club.

6. How does this youth inspire you as a Catholic Christian? This is a chance for you as the nominator to explain why you think this particular teen is worthy of the Eagle of the Cross award in general.  Please share how the way s/he lives his/her faith has impacted and inspired you.

Helpful: Anthony has been blessed with a beautiful and clear singing voice which helps me to pray when he cantors at the parish and at school.  I was impressed to hear that he goes to the grade school PSR/CCD classes monthly and Vacation Bible School every summer to lead worship and music during Mass.  I think it is amazing for the children to see a teen so involved and unafraid to share his gift of singing and playing guitar; Anthony inspires me to revisit my dreams and passions that I have lost throughout the years, and pick up the hobbies I enjoy doing again and glorify God through these things!

Not helpful:  My grandson, Anthony, is the sweetest boy.

If you ever have questions throughout the year and would like to discuss with someone further, you can email Maddie, the Director of the Office, at mfrancisco@youngstowndiocese.org, or call her at 330.744.8451 ext. 310.