TIME, TIME for Kids and Nickelodeon today announced that the search has begun for the second annual Kid of the Year, a multiplatform honor recognizing extraordinary young leaders who are making amazing and admirable contributions in a range of fields, including social justice, science, education and more. The Daytime Emmy(R) Award-nominated Kid of the Year TV special, produced by TIME Studios, will return on Nickelodeon in early 2022 to spotlight the top finalists from the search.

Nickelodeon's TV special--executive produced by Trevor Noah (The Daily Show with Trevor Noah), who also served as host last year--will highlight five honorees, with one outstanding kid ultimately being recognized as TIME Kid of the Year, and featured on the cover of TIME and in additional coverage in TIME For Kids.

Now through Aug. 31, parents, teachers and friends can nominate a kid (aged 8-16) who is creating, standing up and helping to make the world a better place. Each of the finalists will receive funds to further their respective causes and serve as a TIME For Kids Kid Reporter, with exclusive access to a Nickelodeon event. For official submission rules and additional information about the initiative, visit NickKidoftheYear.com.

Following a nationwide search, last year's initiative saw over 5,000 submissions, with 15-year-old Gitanjali Rao, who uses technology to tackle issues ranging from contaminated drinking water to opioid addiction and cyberbullying, chosen as TIME's 2020 Kid of the Year. Finalists included Rebekah Bruesehoff, a transgender activist working with LGBTQ youth, Hannah Jackson, a criminal justice reform advocate, Jordan Reeves, an advocate for those with physical disabilities, and Elijah Lee, a child abuse and social justice activist.

"The Kid of the Year recognition has helped me amplify my voice and gave me a global platform to share the need for innovation," says Rao. "The entire process of selecting the honorees highlighted optimism, kindness, positivity, and shared the work of our generation. Each of us has different talents and we try to light up the community with whatever we can, and Kid of the Year showcases that talent and our ability to make a difference no matter how small it is."

The Kid of the Year TV special will also feature stars from entertainment, sports and pop culture surprising the honorees. Last year's show saw celebrities including Kristen Bell, Simone Biles, Dixie D'Amelio, Billie Eilish, Rob Gronkowski, Neil Patrick Harris, Ken Jeong, Angelina Jolie and Chloe Kim joining the celebration.

Last year's special, which aired in December 2020, was nominated for a Daytime Emmy(R) Award in the category of Outstanding Daytime Non-Fiction Special. The special also received a second nomination in the category of Outstanding Daytime Promotional Announcement.

The Kid of the Year TV special is a co-production of TIME Studios, Day Zero Productions, Mainstay Entertainment and Nickelodeon. Executive Producers include Ian Orefice, Mike Beck and Maria Perez-Brown (TIME Studios), Andrea Delbanco (TIME For Kids), Trevor Noah and Haroon Saleem (Day Zero Productions), Norman Aladjem, Derek Van Pelt and Sanaz Yamin (Mainstay Entertainment) and Ashley Kaplan, Paul J Medford and Luke Wahl (Nickelodeon).