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Each year, the Paynesville Lions Club recognizes seniors at Paynesville Area High School for their volunteer work, both at school and in the community.

Both Frieler and Stelling said they were honored to receive the award.

Volunteering is important, said Frieler, the daughter of Steve and Jane Frieler, "because it makes you appreciate the smaller things in life that you might otherwise take for granted."

Seniors Amanda Stelling and Callie Frieler were chosen for the Lions Service Award in November. The Lions recognize seniors at PAHS for their community service and volunteer work.

"Volunteering is important to me because I am doing something that I like to do (helping others)," said Stelling, the daughter of Linda and Steve Stelling. "I do it because I like to, and it makes me feel good to help others with things they can't do by themselves."

Both Frieler and Stelling said their favorite memory from their service work occurred on mission trips with their church. Stelling said her favorite memory was going to Fort Apache in Arizona and other mission trips because the kids responded to their help so lovingly.

Frieler said her favorite memory was giving a girl a ride on her back at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, during a mission trip last summer. Later the girl gave Frieler her art project from craft time.

Frieler is a peer helper, peer tutor, and student aide at school. She participates in band, speech, the one-act play, the Bark staff, the yearbook, Business Professionals of America, and the Letterwinners' Club.

At St. Louis Catholic Church, she teaches religion, helps with funeral luncheons and youth breakfasts, volunteers at rummage sales and car washes, and has taken one trip to Pine Ridge and plans to go on another next summer.

Stelling is a peer helper, peer tutor, and student aide at school and participates in Students Talking About Respect (STAR), Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), and the Bark staff.

With the youth at Grace United Methodist Church, she has gone on three mission trips: to Fort Apache in 2001, to Red Lake, Minn., in 2002, and to Cairo, Ill., in 2003. She also works in the church nursery, provides childcare for special events, serves on the youth ministry team, helps with Vacation Bible School, and sings in the church choir.

In addition to Frieler and Stelling, seniors Maureen Flanders and Peggy Thompson were chosen for the Lions Service Award in October.