PORT ORCHARD — The AWC Center for Quality Communities is recruiting outstanding young leaders in the area to apply for a $1,200 2018 Quality Communities Scholarship award.

The AWC center is a nonprofit organization sponsored by the Association of Washington Cities. Its mission is to promote civic engagement and provide the public a better understanding of the role cities and towns play in Washington state.

Students living in the city of Port Orchard who are interested in competing must be involved, or have been, with a city government or with a community/school leadership activity. They must be eligible to graduate from high school, complete homeschooling or receive a GED in the spring/summer 2018; be a Washington state resident; and plan to continue their education in the 2018-2019 academic year at an accredited college, community college or trade school on a half-time or more basis.

The scholarship winner will be notified in May 2018.

To apply, download the AWC Center for Quality Communities 2018 Scholarship application at tinyurl.com/ybbeaolc. Then fill out the application and submit it by mail to the City of Port Orchard, 216 Prospect St., Port Orchard, WA 98366. The application also can be emailed to cityhall@cityofportorchard.us.

Applications must be received no later than Feb. 23, 2018.