Local school heroes recognized with awards

Prince William County Schools are “getting some powerful help in molding local leaders of tomorrow. The winners of the HCHY Local Hero Awards were selected for inspiring and enduring contributions through school and community activities,” according to a news release. Recognized were:

• Dr. Alice H. Howard — Leads a mentoring program in PWCS middle schools, and provided homework assistance and snacks at Dumfries Elementary and $1,000 scholarships to PWCS graduates.

• Jason Hickman — Provides critical staffing for youth programs through encouraging the Compton & Duling, L.C. attorneys to seek ways to involve themselves in youth programs such as team coaching, community service programs or joining local school committees, middle school mentoring and summer leadership academy.

• Lavonda Wortham— Involves the Potomac High School SCA and Leadership groups to become active leaders through community service.

• Sara Knight — The Sweet Julia Grace Foundation to fill the gaps, grant wishes, and meet the non-medical needs of seriously ill, special needs or those in midst of medical crisis

Honorable mention awards

• Women in Community Action — Provides scholarships, promotes education, mentors and assists families in need.

• Lauren Nutt-New Horizons Services — Provides strategies and alternative ideas for intervention services and guidance to families on accessing community services emergency services.

• McLean Bible — Provides soccer coaches and materials to run a soccer program for at-risk youth in the summer and assists in integrating them into existing soccer leagues.

• Renee Ordoobadi and Paul Keile — Offer a free after-school 12-hour creative writing course for middle school youth.

Superintendent of Schools Steven Walts thanked the HCHY Council for its leadership and congratulated the award winners, stressing the importance of community in shaping young people into responsible and contributing citizens.

H-C-H-Y, as this initiative is better known is an outstanding example of how our community builds and strengthens an infrastructure that is focused on youth development, in both words and action.