The Phoenix Youth and Education Commission has announced the winners of the 2005 Outstanding Young Man/Young Woman of the Year awards, a scholarship program that recognizes outstanding Phoenix youth.

Brian Ko, a junior at Desert Vista High School , and Samantha Jensen, a junior at North Canyon High School, were named the winners during a luncheon Thursday, March 24.

They were selected from a group of 15 finalists chosen from the city's eight City Council districts.

Ko participates in the school's debate team, tutors young Chinese immigrants and volunteers at hospitals in preparation for a career in medicine. He is a National Merit Scholars semifinalist. Jensen is involved in sports and her school's freshman mentor program, National Honor Society, the Academic Decathlon team and the Writer's Circle. She also volunteers with her church and tutors at Echo Mountain School .

Students in grades nine through 11 are eligible to apply for the program. Applicants were evaluated on their leadership ability, community involvement and commitment to excellence. They also were asked to write about the teacher who had the greatest impact on their lives.

Desert Vista history teacher Van Over had the greatest impact on Ko, and North Canyon English teacher Lee Moline most inspired Jensen.

Jensen and Ko each received $1,000 and two roundtrip tickets from Southwest Airlines. District winners received a plaque and $250. The luncheon was hosted by Soroptimist International of Phoenix, Phoenix Rotary Club 100, APS, Southwest Airlines, know99 TV and the Phoenix Youth and Education Commission.

The district winners are:

District 1: Camille Olson, Sandra Day O'Connor High School

District 2: Philip Evans, Sandra Day O'Connor High School; Samantha Blons, Pinnacle High School

District 3: Brittan Williams, Scottsdale Christian Academy; Samantha Jensen, North Canyon High School

District 4: Cristian Arcega, Carl Hayden High School; Sam Pavlisick, Central High School; Lisamonet Leyvas, Alhambra High School

District 5: Zachary Bethel, home schooled/Washington High School; Skye Wilster, Washington High School

District 6: Brian Ko, Desert Vista High School; Alexandra Clarke, Sunnyslope High School

District 7: Christopher Chavez, Metro Tech High School; Annalisa Regalado, Carl Hayden High School

District 8: Quineice Smith, Sabis International