The Manitou Awards, or better known by the Manitou Springs community as the Mani Awards, are a yearly celebration of those who have made a positive impact in the Manitou community. They are awarded to those who contribute meaningfully to the town and its people and who cultivate the core values of Manitou. This year, Kyle Blasi won the Youth Visionary Award for his strong community presence, academic community excellence and leadership.
The night as a whole was centered around community. “It was like a fancy potluck, and I think that there’s no better structure for that event because a potluck is all about people bringing their own meals, bringing their own plates, to sit down and have a meal with each other,” Blasi said. “It was a bunch of different people, but they’re sitting down, having a meal together, discussing, talking, sharing their stories and their values, coming together for one night to celebrate Manitou and its community.”
Blasi’s commitment to MSHS was shown when he decided to stay in the building his senior year instead of the Pikes Peak State College campus to foster connections and ground himself deeply in the Manitou community. “I specifically chose not to do Pikes Peak State College because I wanted to be in the building. I wanted to be here, interacting with people and meeting new people because these four years are finite,” Blasi said. “I’ll have my time to do college, but I really like just meeting people.”
Connections with others are everything to Blasi. “The biggest drive for me is people. I love being around people, working with people, collaborating with them, and I like to help out in any way that I can. I want to help people live their best life, and then I also just think it’s beautiful when a bunch of people come together to create something or are surrounding something,” he said.
The time Blasi spent in his community helped him to really sit down and listen to those around him to eventually make an impact in his community. “This last summer, I was in the Youth Documentary Academy and I made a film; and as part of that, I sat down with elders in my community to listen to their stories. I think that the biggest thing I took out of that was the power of listening and opening up to other people,” Blasi said. “I think that would fix a lot of the problems that we have in our world today, and I think I’ve taken that experience and put it back into my schooling; and it has given me closer relationships and made me a more valuable community member. I think that’s something I’m gonna bring forward with me as I go out into the world– just the power of listening.”
Blasi is appreciative of the award and the journey he has been on with the city. “I feel so honored to be recognized by the Manitou community. I don’t know of any other town that does something like this,” Blasi said. “I think just to be recognized and celebrated as an example for my peers and one of the top of my class, it just means the world to me… I love Manitou. I’m so grateful for everything that they’ve done for me.”
