Most kids will tell you that the Teen Choice Awards are not to be missed - presented annually by Fox Television Network to recognize the year's biggest achievements in music, movies and sports - imagine an award that celebrates not what you wear but what you do.
The 10th annual awards, hosted by Miley Cyrus, lauded big winners like the Jonas Brothers and "Gossip Girl." They celebrated the accomplishments of nine young individuals who are making the world a better place, one issue at a time.
Scarlett Johansson presented the Do Something Award to Chad Bullock, 19, an anti-smoking activist from Durham, N.C. (of all places).
After the smoking-related death of his grandfather, Bullock used his energy to train 15,000 teens nationwide in developing an action plan and led activists to make Durham Bulls Athletic Park smoke-free.
The nominees, who ranged in age from 12 to 25, joined Bullock in celebration. Among them were Kathryn Cunningham, 22, of Chadds Ford, PA, Power Up Gambia, recognized for her efforts in support of a Gambian hospital, Dallas Jessup, 16 from Vancouver, WA, Just Yell Fire, teaching girls to fight back against predators and sexual assault and Zander Srodes, 18, of Cape Haze, Fla. Srodes began giving lectures as a sea turtle conservationist when he was 11. He has since published a children's activity book in English, Spanish and French and more than 100,000 copies have been distributed for free to schools.
"When I grow up I aspire to be half as amazing as these kids," said DoSomething.org's CEO and Chief Old Person, Nancy Lublin, 37, of New York City.
In my book, these young dosomething.org individuals deserve the stars. And attract stars, they did. (Full disclosure, I had the opportunity to meet the nominees earlier this year in New York and these people are formidable.)
A pre-party at Level 3in Hollywood featured performances from Jesse McCartney, Lil' Mama, Varsity Fan Club, 70's Latin boy-band Menudo, and one of the groups from "America's Best Dance Crew." Party-goers were HuffPo's own Arianna Huffington, actresses Lauren Conrad and Lo Bosworth from "The Hills," Olivia Wilde from "House," and Elizabeth Berkeley from "Saved by the Bell" and "The Suite Life's" Dylan and Cole Sprouse. Celebrity teen heaven.
The awards, televised Monday night, were taped on Sunday at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal Studios in Hollywood. Each of the Do Something Award nominees won $10,000 for their cause and Bullock, the winner, was granted $100,000.
"This award is a BIG DEAL," said Bullock.
"Do you know how many smoke free stadiums we can get? Think about how many people we can prevent from smoking."
The Do Something Awards (formerly the BR!CK Awards) are a testament to young people of today and their ability to foster change. Think you have what it takes to be a Do Something Award Winner? Learn more about DoSomething.org, and in the meanwhile, what are you doing? Do something.