The Orion/Oxford Boys & Girls Club honored some of their best last week, both in the club setting and in the community.
Nineteen club members were given 2007-08 Leadership Awards, including Ali Esslinger, who was named Youth of the Year.
The club also bestowed the Lake Orion Lioness Club with the Community Service Award, and gave Lake Orion Police Reserve Sergeant Steven Bauer the Volunteer of the Year Award.
‘It was totally a surprise,? Bauer said of the award, a result of his weekly participation with the Kids ‘n? Kops Program.
‘You should see him run with the kids,? said program founder and director Amy Fong-Kretzmer. ‘He’s right up there with them.?
Bauer and Fong-Kretzmer, who is also an LOPD reserve sergeant, went with Club Director Tim Dougan to Washington D.C. late last year, where the program won an award at the 2007 Law Enforcement & Partnership for Youth, Crime Prevention Conference.
As part of that award, the program began implementing the internet safety program NetSmartz through a federal grant.
Fong-Kretzmer said the Kids ‘n? Kops program will have a fundraising booth at the upcoming Flower Fair in downtown Lake Orion.
Club honorees were Taylor Barrett, Tom Cavanaugh, Zack Chudzinski, Megan Davis, Ali Esslinger, Melina Evans, Tammy Evans, Sabrina Hampton, Nick Hill, Zack Hudson, Allen Garlow, Christopher Griffin, Brenda La Vigne, Drew La Vigne, Brittany Levering Cierra Levering, Ailsa McCormick, Gabi Poirier and Jamie Rikerd.