A committee from the Lions Club polled area churches and nursing homes to see which students were helping in the community.
The first two students selected for recognition are Jennifer Roberg and James Gilk.
Roberg, the daughter of Larry and Joyce Roberg, helps at the Koronis Manor Nursing Home, is a peer tutor at school, a 4-H Ambassador, is active in church, youth group and helps at vacation Bible School at the Paynesville Evangelical Free Church. She is also a D.A.R.E. role model.
Her school activities include vice president of the student council, member of the yearbook staff, letterwinners club, softball team, choir and drama. She is also n honor roll student.
Gilk, the son of Don and Diane Gilk, rural Paynesville, has organized kids to visit the Good Samaritan Nursing Home, taught religion at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Roscoe, and is an assistant Boy Scout troop leader.
Gilk is also a member of DECA, VICA and is an Eagle Scout.
The purpose of the award is an opportunity for a service organization to demonstrate that they appreciate the spirit of service in others, particularly youth. This effort will espouse youth preparing to enter the adult world to the notion of service clubs, in particular, Lions.
The criteria established by the Lions on which the youth are selected include:
•The students will be of good academic standing.
•The selected students will have demonstrated unselfish service in some local arena such as church, school, community, hospital, nursing home, etc.
•The students will have demonstrated involvement in their school and or church and community.
•The two students selected monthly will be members of the senior class.
•The students will not have committed any serious legal violations.
Anyone interested in nominating a student for the Lion’s Youth Service Award can contact Dave Mutschelknaus at 320-243-3724 or 320-597-3497.