Today we look at the third category in the countdown to the Examiner Community Awards: Young Personality.

The winner will be announced on the awards night on June 3 at the John Smith’s Stadium.

SimplyBiz is proud to sponsor the Young Personality category at this year’s Examiner Community Awards.

It said: "Apprentices and interns make up more than 5% of the SimplyBiz workforce as we recognise the value that young people can bring to a professional environment. Without exception, their enthusiasm, positive outlook and fresh ideas make it wholly worthwhile for us to commit to developing and investing in training for young people from our community, ensuring a better future for us all."

Here are the three people who made the shortlist:

Abbey Chapman

Abbey Chapman
Abbey Chapman

Abbey Chapman’s list of achievements and interests would befit an octogenarian, never mind a teenager.

The 15-year-old Moor End Academy student lives live to the full.

A member of the Advisory Board for the National Children’s Bureau since 2013, she regularly travels independently to Bristol to represent the views of young people across England and Wales and attending conferences in London several times a year,

Abbey is an exemplary grade A student who works hard with a 100% attendance and punctuality record. She achieved the school’s gold standard in the character building ‘Inspire ME’ award and is a joy to teach.

As a dedicated army cadet, her passion for shooting has taken her all the way from representing Huddersfield Detachment D Company to being selected for the GB squad in the National Shooting Competition in Canada, July 2015.

One of the top rifle marksmen in Yorkshire, Abbey is one of 13 UK Army Cadets selected for seven weeks of intensive training this summer in Canada. Currently awaiting promotion to corporal, not only does Abbey shoot, she also represents the company at cross-country at regional level.

While training younger cadets, this kind and modest teenager has developed interpersonal skills, a sense of duty, responsibility and self-discipline, and expertise in field craft, arms, map reading and survival. She also recently completed her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.

She won the Rotary Club Young Person’s Chef of the Year competition at Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival in 2011 and was runner-up to her sister in 2012.

Abbey is an improving skier and a keen photographer, she trampolines and plays netball. She has played guitar for four years, and her band won the local ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition in Beaumont Park.

Usman Khan

Usman Khan.
Usman Khan.

Usman Khan is an intelligent fun-loving 16-year-old.

He enjoys a laugh with his family and watching film – any with Arnold Schwarzenegger are particular favourites.

Sadly Usman, of Birkby, is suffering from an undiagnosed degenerative life shortening condition and the Forget Me Not Hospice have nominated the brave teenager for his courage in the face of adversity.

When Usman was three years old his mother, Nahid, noticed he was limping so took him to see the doctor.

However, medical specialists couldn’t find the cause of his limp and it was not until later that his condition was again assessed.

Experts then came to the conclusion that he was suffering from an undiagnosable degenerative condition.

Usman’s condition meant that by the age of five he wasn’t able to crawl anymore and at the age of eight lost all ability to speak.

Currently he is fed and given his medicines through a gastronomy tube and often uses a ventilation mask to assist him with his breathing, he is wheelchair bound and dependable on his family and care team.

As doctors are unable to diagnose the next stage of his condition he and his family have to take life one day at a time.

Despite all that he has been through and continues to battle, Usman’s bravery and character continue to shine through.

He is loved at his school, Castle Hill, where his wonderful sense of humour is appreciated. Even though he has no speech, Usman he is very expressive and communicates through movements.

The Forget Me Not Hospice team said: “For Usman to have this degenerative condition and yet continue to bravely face every day with a smile and a winning attitude is incredible and we all truly admire his astounding courage.

“We believe that Usman deserves to be recognised for his amazing courage His attitude is an inspiration to us all and he truly epitomises the amazing strength and the unbelievable courage which so many children with life shortening conditions have.”

Marsden Youth Group

Marsden Youth group, front John Shone.
Marsden Youth group, front John Shone.

A band of teenagers are determined to make their town a better place to live – and they have the energy to make it happen.

Marsden Youth Group is a newly-formed organisation involving 20 to 30 young people. It’s aims are to get more young people involved in the community and to make Marsden a better and more friendly place for people of all ages.

The group was born out of the ashes of a smaller Woods and Carrs Action Group which ran for around four years and managed the impressive feat of raising £70,000 to completely revamp a park behind Woods Terrace.

The young people organised a host of activities and received donations from charities and other organisations.

The park was hardly ever used, but since the money was spent on new play equipment, drainage and other improvements, it is now popular with young people, picnickers and families.

One of the driving forces behind both groups is 17-year-old New College student John Shone who, along with Danyka Haigh, acts as a spokesman for Marsden Youth Group.

John said: “We have lots of exciting ideas.

“We want to give the younger kids something to do and an opportunity to make friends from other parts of the village and give people under 18 the opportunity to volunteer with us and gain some good leadership skills and help fundraise for the group so we can put on the activities.

“I think it would be great if, through the group, we could start by creating some ‘Welcome to Marsden, signs, which we could create using young people’s art designs.

“We also want to start putting on regular activities such as bushcraft sessions and trips out to places like Blackpool. Another project is to start a youth club – there used to be one in Marsden, but it closed down.”

The group is full of enthusiasm and commitment, coupled with a track record of making projects happen so watch this space!

Coming tomorrow : Emergency Services Award nominees.