Yusef Charles - Edgewater High School

It is my honor to nominate Yusef Charles for the Orlando Mayor’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Humanitarian Award. Yusef represents the very qualities Dr. King sought to inspire in young people: character, service, humility, and a genuine commitment to uplifting others.

As an outstanding student-athlete and varsity baseball captain at Edgewater High School, Yusef leads not only through words, but additionally through consistent, daily action. He is an honor roll student and maintains a respectful, dependable, and unfailingly positive attitude that often spreads to others around him. He is always the first to offer assistance, encourage a teammate, or quietly take on an unpopular task to help make life easier for others. 

Yusef has become a role model for younger students, through his commitment to community service, specifically at the College Park Center and Nunez Baseball Camp. Through this service he demonstrates a deep sense of connection to his neighborhood, and works tirelessly to make a positive impact—not just by improving himself, but also uplifting those around him. His actions embody his personal philosophy as well as Dr. King’s belief that true greatness is found in serving others.

Yusef’s character, kindness, and leadership distinguish him as a young man truly worthy of this honor and will play a significant role on his path to achieving his career dream of becoming a Cybersecurity Analyst. He unmistakably exemplifies the genuine, authentic description and meaning of a humanitarian, and I am extremely proud to recommend him for this award.