BYA, Optimists Club Honor Area Youths at Annual Awards Event

The Birmingham Youth Assistance and the Birmingham Optimists honored 49 area youth at the second annual Youth in Service Appreciation Awards, held April 18 at .

For the awards, local area middle school and high school-aged teens are nominated by their principals, teachers, school counselors, community school organizers and youth clergy for their efforts to make their community a better place.

"The honorees are a collection of outstanding youth who have impacted our local community in a positive manner through various civic service efforts," David R. Walker, even chair said. "Birmingham Youth Assistance and the Birmingham Optimists are privileged to honor these exceptional teens."

Keynote speaker at the even was Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh. Pugh recoznized the accomplishments of the middle and high school students, urging them to consider opportunities for civic service in their own backyard, Detroit.

At the event, Cranbrook senior Madison Romney and Marian senior Arielle O'Bryan were awarded BYA's prestigious Jane Parker Award.

Romney has devoted dozen of hours helping kids in Costa Rica receive much-needed soccer equipment, and has also worked on Cranbrook's Namtenga Project. Namtenga, a village in Burkina Faso, West Africa, has a cooperative weaving studio that produces goods sold at Cranbrook and throughout the Birmingham area.

O'Bryan has volunteered at various non-profit agencies throughout Metro Detroit, including the Pontiac Baldwin Center After School Program, where she assists with homework and tutors children.