Eighteen local students were recognized for their outstanding volunteer efforts during the 2014 Naperville Youth Service Award ceremony Nov. 17 at the Municipal Center downtown.
“It is a privilege to partner with Mayor (A. George) Pradel and the city of Naperville to honor young people who have gone above and beyond in their service to our community,” said Bridget Hatch, KidsMatter marketing and event manager.
Since 1993, the city of Naperville has presented awards to recognize Naperville students who are exemplary community contributors. This year, the 18 teens represented 16 different social service agencies.
“This is the 21st year of recognizing young people who are role models for not only their peers but for all of us,” Hatch said. “These 18 young men and women truly get what it means to serve; (they) don’t dwell on what this service does for them; they are focused on what this will do to impact the lives of other people in meaningful ways.”
Hatch said the ceremony was followed by a dinner with the mayor and council members that “provides an opportunity to sit down, talk and learn from each other.”
“Most of all, we get to thank our youth who serve in a very personal way,” she said.
Here are the 2014 Naperville Youth Service Award winners and the service organizations they represent:
Stacia Bohnert and Erin Cady for 360 Youth Services
Jessica Kim for Almost Home Kids
Tracy Nguyen for DuPage Children’s Museum
Sylwia Osos for DuPage Habitat for Humanity
Christina Schoose for Edward Hospital and Health Services
Austin Cao for Feed My Starving Children
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David Krohn for Forest Preserve District of Will County
Alyssa Fieldman and Noelle Maher for Gigi’s Playhouse
Lauren Majerik for KidsMatter
Gina Palasz for Kidz Kabaret
Cheryl Rajiv for Loaves and Fishes
Katie Jaseckas for Morton Arboretum
Nathan Bryk for Naper Settlement
Taylor Ross for NaperBridge
Jack Bransby for Naperville Park District
Krishna Bhati for Naperville Public Library