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WARREN – The second annual 20 Under Twenty awards dinner celebrated the extensive and altruistic volunteerism of 20 local youths Tuesday evening at DiVieste Banquet Hall.
From delivering hand-sewn dresses to women in Africa, to serving as a sign language interpreter and promoting organ donation, to many acts of service in between, the young leaders gave of themselves tirelessly.
On Tuesday, they set aside their aprons, paint brushes, gardening gloves and the like to be recognized at the event presented by the Tribune Chronicle and Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley.
“I think we don’t yet know who we are, and volunteering helps us to know who we are,” award-winner Hannah Rogers said.
Rogers, 17, of Cortland, started a club for students with learning disabilities to practice social interactions, and began a program to let graduating high school students pass on advice to incoming students. She said the experiences taught her to love and care for all people.
Sitting across the table from her at the dinner was her nominator, Kathy Shirley, who said she has watched Rogers grow up into “the most caring and genuine person (she) knows.”
“I have a young granddaughter and if she could grow up to be anything like Hannah, I’d be thrilled,” she said.
The 20 young leaders were chosen from about 60 nominees for their outstanding leadership, academic and extracurricular success. Rogers was among the top five finalists, including Anna McCue of Howland, Jacqueline Germano of Cortland and Sabrina Snell of Kinsman. The students received $125 checks to use for their volunteer projects or to donate to a nonprofit of their choice.
Meredith Brugler, 17, of Warren was chosen as the overall winner and received a $500 check for the same purposes. Brugler began an after-school cooking class for elementary students in the Warren City School District.
“I might cry in a second,” Brugler said after receiving the check. “This is going to go to my project and to my cooking class.”
Brugler’s program helps to boost the attendance of students who were otherwise truant, award presenter and Tribune Chronicle Publisher Charles Jarvis said.
“Something about this project made the students want to come to school,” he said. “It’s like the saying you can give a man a fish and it will feed him for a day, or you can teach him to fish and you’ll feed him for a lifetime. It’s the same with teaching how to cook. It’s a lifetime skill that they aren’t learning today.”
All 20 students received proclamations from the Trumbull County commissioners and U.S. Rep. Timothy J. Ryan, D-Howland, along with the signature 20 Under Twenty red glass awards shaped like flames.
“They are designed to be a reminder for them to keep the flame burning for leadership and service for tomorrow,” Jarvis said.