Clarkston Area Youth Assistance honored more than 120 young people on April 26 for their volunteer service in and around the Clarkston community.
The agency solicited nominations from local schools and organizations, and found numerous examples of kids who offered help ‘without ever wondering, ‘what’s in it for me.??
Students were honored for helping in churches and school classrooms, raising money for Asian tsunami relief and volunteering for organizations such as SCAMP and Lighthouse.
The sanctuary at Clarkston United Methodist Church was packed with parents and other well-wishers, as a ‘receiving line? of local school and government officials presented honorees with certificates of appreciation.
Three were chosen ‘Youth of the Year? based on essays they wrote about their volunteer experiences. This year’s special honorees were Morgan Ritthaler, fifth grader at Andersonville Elementary; Erica Cale, seventh grader at Clarkston Middle School; and Brittany Rodgers, ninth grader at Clarkston High School.