The finalists provide their advice to other YPs and give their thoughts on how to improve Des Moines.
The nominating period for the 2017 YP of the Year program opened Oct. 9 and runs through Oct. 29 at 11:59 p.m.
For the past four years, the Des Moines Register and Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Young Professionals Connection (YPC) have partnered to recognize the young men and women who dedicate their lives to improving the quality of life of the Des Moines metro community.
If you know a deserving young professional who exemplifies the behaviors in one of the four categories listed below, nominate him or her at yp17.desmoinesregister.com by Oct. 29 at 11:59 p.m.
![Hundreds attend the 2016 YP of the Year Awards at Sticks]()
1 of 103![Hundreds attend the 2016 YP of the Year Awards at Sticks]()
2 of 103![Hundreds attend the 2016 YP of the Year Awards at Sticks]()
3 of 103![Hundreds attend the 2016 YP of the Year Awards at Sticks]()
4 of 103![Des Moines Register Publisher David Chivers chats before]()
5 of 103![Hundreds attend the 2016 YP of the Year Awards at Sticks]()
6 of 103![Hundreds attend the 2016 YP of the Year Awards at Sticks]()
7 of 103![Hundreds attend the 2016 YP of the Year Awards at Sticks]()
8 of 103![Hundreds attend the 2016 YP of the Year Awards at Sticks]()
9 of 103![Des Moines Register Publisher David Chivers speaks]()
10 of 103![Food served Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the 2016]()
11 of 103![Decorations Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the 2016]()
12 of 103![Gift bags Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the 2016 Young]()
13 of 103![Guests arrive Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the 2016]()
14 of 103![Guests talk Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the 2016]()
15 of 103![Guests talk Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the 2016]()
16 of 103![Guests talk Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the 2016]()
17 of 103![Guests including Abi Reiland (left) and Chris Beard]()
18 of 103![Reed Gibson talks Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the]()
19 of 103![Stephanie Anderson talks Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during]()
20 of 103![Past winners (from left) Alex Duong, Emily Lang, Brianne]()
21 of 103![Nathan Unsworth talks with guests Thursday, Feb. 9,]()
22 of 103![Guests including finalist Liz Lidgett Thursday, Feb.]()
23 of 103![Des Moines Register Publisher David Chivers speaks]()
24 of 103![Des Moines Register Publisher David Chivers speaks]()
25 of 103![Guests including finalist Jessica Lowe talk Thursday,]()
26 of 103![Guests talk Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the 2016]()
27 of 103![Finalist Emily Toribio and past winner Brianne Fitzgerald]()
28 of 103![Finalist Liz Lidgett talks with guests and family members]()
29 of 103![Food served Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the 2016]()
30 of 103![Finalists Jessica Lowe and Nathan Unsworth talk Thursday,]()
31 of 103![Finalists Jessica Lowe and Nathan Unsworth talk Thursday,]()
32 of 103![Guests mingle Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the 2016]()
33 of 103![Past winner Brianne Fitzgerald and finalist Hanna Wolle]()
34 of 103![Guests get food Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the]()
35 of 103![Finalist Kyle Oppenhuizen talks with Paige Hubbard]()
36 of 103![Guests get drinks Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the]()
37 of 103![Guests including David Spalding of Iowa State University]()
38 of 103![Guests get food Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the]()
39 of 103![Guests get drinks Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the]()
40 of 103![Guests stand near a message wall Thursday, Feb. 9,]()
41 of 103![Guests including finalist Larry Anderson talk Thursday,]()
42 of 103![Guests mingle Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the 2016]()
43 of 103![Guests mingle Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the 2016]()
44 of 103![Food served Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the 2016]()
45 of 103![Finalist Jaimie Miller-Ackley talks with guests Thursday,]()
46 of 103![Guests take photos Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the]()
47 of 103![Des Moines Register's Carol Hunter and David Chivers]()
48 of 103![Des Moines Register Publisher David Chivers speaks]()
49 of 103![Des Moines Register Publisher David Chivers speaks]()
50 of 103![Guests listen to presenters Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017,]()
51 of 103![Finalist Nathan Unsworth listens to presenters Thursday,]()
52 of 103![Guests listen to presenters Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017,]()
53 of 103![Finalist Larry Anderson listens to presenters Thursday,]()
54 of 103![Jay Byers of the Greater Des Moines Partnership speaks]()
55 of 103![Guests listen to presenters Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017,]()
56 of 103![Jay Byers of the Greater Des Moines Partnership speaks]()
57 of 103![Ryan Bruner speaks Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the]()
58 of 103![David Spalding of Iowa State University speaks Thursday,]()
59 of 103![Guests listen to presenters Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017,]()
60 of 103![Guests listen to presenters Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017,]()
61 of 103![Emily Abbas speaks Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the]()
62 of 103![Guests get drinks Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the]()
63 of 103![Alex Duong speaks Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the]()
64 of 103![Jessica Lowe receives the Ashley Oakland Community]()
65 of 103![Jessica Lowe receives the Ashley Oakland Community]()
66 of 103![Jessica Lowe receives the Ashley Oakland Community]()
67 of 103![Brianne Fitzgerald presents the YPC Amy Jennings YP]()
68 of 103![Nathan Unsworth receives the YPC Amy Jennings YP Impact]()
69 of 103![Nathan Unsworth receives the YPC Amy Jennings YP Impact]()
70 of 103![Nathan Unsworth receives the YPC Amy Jennings YP Impact]()
71 of 103![Emily Lang presents the Des Moines Creative Of The]()
72 of 103![Allison Fegley receives the Des Moines Creative Of]()
73 of 103![Allison Fegley receives the Des Moines Creative Of]()
74 of 103![Allison Fegley receives the Des Moines Creative Of]()
75 of 103![Jonathan Brendemuehl presents the YP of the Year Award]()
76 of 103![Kyle Oppenhuizen receives the YP of the Year Award]()
77 of 103![Kyle Oppenhuizen receives the YP of the Year Award]()
78 of 103![Des Moines Register Publisher David Chivers speaks]()
79 of 103![Des Moines Register Publisher David Chivers speaks]()
80 of 103![YP of the Year Award winner Kyle Oppenhuizen and Jay]()
81 of 103![Award winners (from left) Kyle Oppenhuizen, Allison]()
82 of 103![Award winners (from left) Kyle Oppenhuizen, Allison]()
83 of 103![Past YP of the Year Award winners with Kyle Oppenhuizen]()
84 of 103![Kyle Oppenhuizen and Jonathan Brendemuehl Thursday,]()
85 of 103![Allison Fegley and Emily Lang Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017,]()
86 of 103![Jay Byers with Jessica Lowe and Alex Duong Thursday,]()
87 of 103![Past award winners with Jessica Lowe Thursday, Feb.]()
88 of 103![Nathan Unsworth and Brianne Fitzgerald Thursday, Feb.]()
89 of 103![Brianne Fitzgerald, Nathan Unsworth and Jay Byers Thursday,]()
90 of 103![Jay Byers speaks Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the]()
91 of 103![Jessica Lowe Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the 2016]()
92 of 103![Nathan Unsworth and Amy Jennings Thursday, Feb. 9,]()
93 of 103![Ryan Bruner speaks Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the]()
94 of 103![Amy Jennings Nathan Unsworth and Brianne Fitzgerald]()
95 of 103![Finalists and winners Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during]()
96 of 103![Emily Abbas speaks Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the]()
97 of 103![Guests listen to presenters Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017,]()
98 of 103![Guests listen to presenters Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017,]()
99 of 103![Alex Duong speaks Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, during the]()
100 of 103![Jessica Lowe receives the Ashley Oakland Community]()
101 of 103![Allison Fegley receives the Des Moines Creative Of]()
102 of 103![Kyle Oppenhuizen receives the YP of the Year Award]()
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The four categories of recognition are:
YP of the Year: recognizes a young professional who has made significant contributions for civic, charitable, entertainment or quality of life in central Iowa.
Des Moines Creative of the Year: recognizes an individual who is pushing creativity in his or her field, whether it be art, graphic design, music, culinary, interior design, architecture or another area of work or study.
Amy Jennings YP Impact Award: recognizes a young professional who made a significant impact on the young professional community and has showcased a dedication to creating a vibrant community that attracts and retains young professionals. The award focuses on a young professional leadership and impact on the YP environment.
Ashley Okland YP Community Service Award: recognizes a young professional who exemplifies the volunteerism and spirit of the late YPC board member Ashley Okland in giving of his or her time, talents and other resources to community organizations. The award focuses on the nominee’s charitable impact.
The finalists will be revealed on Jan. 8, 2018 at a cocktail reception at Decades. And the winners will be announced at the 2017 YP of the Year awards ceremony at Temple for Performing Arts Grand Hall in February 2018.
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