Young Scot Awards 2008: THE WINNERS!

Drum roll please…………………Young Scot is proud to announce the fantabulous (yes that is a word, OK, maybe it’s not but we can’t think of an existing one good enough!) winners of the 2008 Young Scot Awards.

Our overall winners were twin brothers Jamie and Andy Stewart, of Dunfermline, who received a standing ovation and were also awarded the Sunday Mail Readers Award.

Andy Stewart died of Leukaemia in 2005 aged just 15, but his legacy lives on through Jamie's determination to raise money for Leukaemia research with Team Andy Stewart, a 41-strong cycling group. Andy allowed film crews to follow his journey with cancer for a BBC documentary but hid from his parents just how scared he was of death. After he died suddenly, his parents made the brave decision to let the programme be shown to help other families with a terminally ill child. Since his death, Andy's family have raised more than £17,000 through sponsored cycles.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of 2008's finalists - the standard this year really was outstanding and choosing winners was an extremely difficult task for our judging panel. Please put your hands together as we reveal the winners of the third annual Sunday Mail & Lloyds TSB Young Scot Awards ……

Arts, sponsored by the SAC Young Scot Arts Action Fund

The Tail Feathers Group from Biggar, Lanarkshire

This team of aspiring young artists are behind four spectacular swan sculptures in Biggar Public Park. The 15 youngsters, under the guidance of well-known local artist Richard Price, designed the fantastic display to commemorate 100 years of Biggar history.

Environment, sponsored by Scottish Gas

Umamah Ebrahim, 13, from Glasgow

Umamah is an ardent environmental campaigner, who is determined to preserve the trees in her area for future generations. Last year she helped her local greenspaces group save a small park at the end of her street, which is home to a 100-year-old tree.

Health, sponsored by NHS Health Scotland

The View - Dominic Gowans, 16, and Blaire MacLeod, 16 from Dundee, and Rebecca Greig, 19 from Tayport.

The VIEW (Values, rIghts, confidEntiality and the laW) team help train health workers to be more aware of the needs and issues of young people. They developed an interactive game show, which is now used to teach professionals who are starting out in their health career. More than 200 health workers have taken part in the training and have given amazing feedback.

Democracy / Citizenship, sponsored by SCCYP

Nick Henderson, 19 and Jacky Cheun, 20, from Dundee

Nick and Jacky have been involved in ground-breaking youth engagement and anti-poverty campaigning. They set up Yep (Youth End Poverty) Dundee to get the voices of young people in the city heard and their concerns listened to and acted upon. They produced a DVD that highlights poverty issues, which has been shown to more than 200 students in four of the city's secondary schools.

Volunteering, sponsored by Volunteer Development Scotland

Gillian Watt, 17, from Wishaw, North Lanarkshire

Gillian set up two dance troupes in her school to encourage physical activity, promote healthy lifestyles and encourage teamwork and peer support. Many of the youngsters in the groups had low attendance levels and behavioural problems but that has all changed thanks to Gillian and the lessons she gives during lunchtimes and after school. The superfit teenager also gave up a lot of her spare time to choreograph her school's sell-out show, We Will Rock You.

Heritage, sponsored by Historic Scotland

Auchinleck Summer Project, from Ayrshire

This community-spirited group built a garden in Auchinleck during the summer to preserve the mining spirit in their village. The Miners' Memorial Walk in Well Road has transformed a previously derelict piece of land and has been dedicated to the men who died working in the Ayrshire pits over the past two centuries.

Music, sponsored by Ticketmaster

Amy Macdonald, 20, Bishopbriggs

Last year singing sensation Amy played to a sell-out 10,000 - strong audience at the SECC in Glasgow at the personal invitation of Elton John. She has also had a Top 20 hit with her debut single Mr Rock & Roll and a number one album, This Is The Life - not bad ey?!

Enterprise, sponsored by the University of Strathclyde Business School

Stuart Dale, 16 and James Clements, 15, from Glasgow

DJ Stuart and business partner James have made a big impact on Glasgow's club scene after unearthing an untapped market in under-18 nights and although they're still at school, they have a net profit of £5,500 a year. The pair set up their own company, Presentable Productions, last year and now employ 12 teenagers to hand out flyers. As well as ploughing money back into the business, the boys donated £1000 to help Angolan refugee rapper Levis Albano, 21, record an album.

Sport, sponsored by Lloyds TSB Scotland

Lianne Rundell, 19, Shotts, North Lanarkshire

Lianne works tirelessly to share and spread her passion for sport among other young people in her community. She volunteers weekly at Calderhead High School, in Shotts where she has set up a girls' football team and leads training sessions every Tuesday evening and draws on the experience she has from her time spent playing with Wishaw Girls' Football Club, where she was a Scottish Cup winner and runner-up in the West of Scotland League

Entertainment, sponsored by East Kilbride Shopping Centre

Leon Jackson, 19, Whitburn, West Lothian.

We think you might already know a thing or two about this winner, but just in case you don't….! Leon stormed to victory in X Factor 2007 and won the hearts of the nation after dedicating his win to his mum. With a Christmas No.1 to his name and a promising career to look forward to, it is commendable that Leon has remained a great role model.

Unsung Hero, sponsored by ACPOS

Graeme Hay, 19, from Cullen, Morayshire

Graeme is the youngest member of the British Red Cross in Scotland to achieve the Trauma Management Award. The selfless teenager came up with the innovative idea of getting his organisation to work alongside the Maritime Coastguard Agency - a scheme which is to be rolled out across the country. Graeme, who was a member of the Red Cross Swift Water Rescue team, which responded to the devastating floods in Gloucester last summer, also responds to 999 calls when he is nearest the scene and deals with the situation until the Ambulance Service arrive.

Community, Sponsored by the Scottish Government

Aimee Gilmour, 12, from Rothesay, Isle of Bute

This young schoolgirl has only been living in Rothesay for a few months but she has succeeded in uniting the entire community with her sunny outlook. Aimee received the highest number of nominations ever, after dozens of her new neighbours and friends emailed in about the effect she has had on their lives. Aimee is also an ambassador for David Hayman's charity Spirit Aid and helped record a song for the organisation's issue-based film Everybody I Know Drinks.

Cultural Diversity, Sponsored by Careers Scotland

Lacine Cherif, 16, from Glasgow

Lacine fled the Ivory Coast after witnessing his father's execution by rebel soldiers, he was just 12 when he was found wandering the streets of Glasgow after arriving penniless and alone in Scotland without a word of English. But incredibly Lacine is now a full-time youth player at Rangers and spends his spare time fundraising for the Red Cross, the organisation which have guaranteed him a happier life.

Phew! Right, you can stop clapping now, but feel free to continue with the wolf whistles if you so desire!