LEWISTON – Do you know a teenager who saved a friend’s life? A middle-schooler who helped a neighbor through a tough time? A high school student who did a good deed?

They could win a new award from Lewiston.

“It’s another way of showing that the city of Lewiston cares about its young people,” said Mayor Lionel Guay. “We want to reward them for doing something extraordinary.

Starting this month, Guay and the 10-member Lewiston Youth Advisory Council will award a Mayor’s Citation of Excellence to one Lewiston student who has done a good deed or has taken a remarkable action in the last two months. Nominees must live in Lewiston and must be middle- or high-school students. Home-schoolers are also eligible.

Students may be nominated by teachers, parents, friends or other members of the public. Nominations must be one page or less and tell why the nominee deserves the mayor’s award.

Guay proposed the award earlier this year after learning about a similar one presented by the mayor in Newport, R.I. The Lewiston Youth Advisory Council, a committee of Lewiston students who advise city officials on youth issues, agreed to help the mayor select a winner each month.

“I think the youth in our community deserve to be recognized,” said Chairwoman Katie Lauze.

The mayor will present the award each month in a surprise ceremony at the winner’s school or home.

Nominations are due the second Friday of each month, so the first nominations must be in by Friday, Oct. 8.

Letters should be sent to: Mayor Lionel C. Guay Jr., Lewiston City Hall, 27 Pine St., Lewiston, ME 04240. They may also be e-mailed to lguay@ci.lewiston.me.us.

“Mayor’s Citation of Excellence” should be noted on the outside of the envelope or in the subject line of an e-mail.