Ten Westchester high school seniors, who have shown exceptional commitment to their local communities of New Rochelle, Chappaqua, Yorktown, Peekskill, Sleepy Hollow, Lakeland,  Edgemont and Mamaroneck  have been selected as recipients of the Westchester County Youth Board’s 2011 Milly Kibrick Youth Service Awards, County Executive Robert P. Astorino announced.     

The 10 were honored at a dinner at the Davenport Club, New Rochelle, where they received various gifts and a plaque.

The Milly Kibrick Youth Service Awards are given in memory of Milly Kibrick, a prominent county social worker and youth activist, who dedicated her life to helping underprivileged children..

“Milly was a driving force in improving the lives of young people.” said Astorino. “She made a lasting impact on our community. This year’s honorees are following in her footsteps. Their work has improved their own communities and at a young age they have managed to accomplish great things.”

The aim of the Youth Board’s awards program is to recognize high school seniors of the Class of 2012 who have been involved in building a flourishing, strong and compassionate community through individual efforts and actions.

Benjamin Ackerman lives in New Rochelle and attends New Rochelle High School. He is a caring leader, who is dedicated toward making our world a better place for all.

In his sophomore year of high school, Ben and a few of his friends recognized that special education students were lacking integration among their peers. In response to this, he established New Rochelle High School’s chapter of Best Buddies, a club which creates the opportunity for one-to-one friendships for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ben and his buddy, Steven, often spend time together during gym class and at the events hosted by the club. At New Rochelle High School, Ben is also an active member of Hope from the Heart, which raises money in support of cancer research, and was the president of his Junior Class.

Benjamin is also an active member of the New Rochelle Youth Bureau. Since the eighth grade, he has served on the city’s Youth Court, which administers “Justice for the Youth, By the Youth.” Most recently he served as a Judge, hearing cases ranging from misdemeanor assault to felony robbery. Ben also serves as a youth commissioner on the bureau’s board, where he helped to spear-head fundraising efforts. Benjamin also volunteers in a mechanical engineering lab at Columbia University in an effort to increase the speed of electronic devices twenty to one hundredfold.

Through Beth El Hebrew High School, Ben has organized an annual holiday toy drive and visited with the elderly at Willow Towers Living Facility. He also established a cooking program at the New Rochelle Boys & Girls Club to educate elementary school age children about the benefits of healthy eating. Ben can often be found at the HOPE Soup Kitchen.

Charlotte Bilski lives in Chappaqua and attends Horace Greeley High School. After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Charlotte Bilski co-chaired a 40-member teen planning committee working for several months to organize a day of service at the Afya Foundation in Yonkers sorting humanitarian and medical supplies to be airlifted to Haiti. The project involved over 150 Jewish high school students from more than 16 area high schools and raised $2,000 to support the effort. Charlotte joined her school’s Haiti Relief Committee and helped start an Afya Club there to collect needed supplies and volunteer for more warehouse sorts.

Last year in addition to her work with the Afya Foundation, Charlotte co-chaired a Teen-Led Service Trip to Louisiana with J-Teen Leadership (her third since Hurricane Katrina), where teens raised over $10,000 to support four organizations and did hands-on work over the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend.

Charlotte was one of 15 teens selected nationally for the 2011 Parade Magazine and Generation On All-America Service Team. She received President’s Volunteer Service Awards in 2008, 2010 and 2011; and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award in 2011 from the African American Men’s Association of Westchester and the United Way for her work with the Afya Foundation. Charlotte is a co-chair of J-Teen Leadership and a member of the Westchester County Youth Council.

Timothy George lives in Yorktown Heights and attends Yorktown High School. He has a passion for community service in both the area he lives, as well as in the larger world community.

Locally, Tim has been involved since freshman year with a food pantry run out of Yorktown Presbyterian Church, where he volunteers his services several times a month distributing food to families in need. He also volunteers monthly with Midnight Run out of Holy Name of Mary Church in Croton, delivering food, clothing and companionship to homeless people living on the streets of New York City. In addition, he enjoys working with local Yorktown youth, coaching intramural 8th grade boy’s basketball.

Outside the local area Tim has made two trips to Nicaragua with the Croton Bridges to Community, where he has helped construct affordable and safe housing for families in this desperately poor country. He plans to make a third trip to Nicaragua with Bridges this coming February. 

Tim serves as co-president of the Yorktown High School Chapter of Amnesty International, helping the organization raise awareness and funds for Amnesty Projects around the world.

Stephanie Gil lives in Peekskill and attends Peekskill High School. She has been a part of the community service club at her school since she was a freshman and now enjoys the honor of being co-president.  Her interest in community service stems from her desire to make others happier.

Her desire to help others be happier has not only led her to do community service, but to also participate in her school Drama department. From back stage set building to acting as a lead on stage, Stephanie has participated in all aspects of and considers the drama department to be a small family where artistic expression can be set free. She is the president of Peekskill High School’s student council and treasurer of the twelfth grade class council. She enjoys all things academic, which is why she participates in the school’s Academic Competition Club of which she is president.

Stephanie is a dedicated young adult not only in her studies, but also to her school and community. She has maintained a 4.0 GPA and has also helped organize school activities such as Spirit Week and tutored fellow students.  She has also helped to execute and plan arts and crafts activities as well as dances with senior citizens. Stephanie has volunteered her time at a business expo in her town and the Hudson Valley Hospital Center. She’d also like to thank her community service advisor, Allison Risoli, for truly being like a second mother to her at school and for nominating her for this award.

Kyle McGovern lives in Tarrytown and attends Sleepy Hollow High School. He is very active in extra-curricular activities, including serving as the Sleepy Hollow’s Student Body President. Kyle previously served as the class president for his freshman, sophomore and junior year classes.

Kyle is an active member in several of Sleepy Hollow’s various clubs, including the Environmental Club (SPEAR) and the Multimedia Team. Kyle participates in three varsity sports: Cross Country, Ice Hockey, and Lacrosse.

Volunteer work and community service have always been a central and fundamental part of Kyle’s life. He has participated in several “Weeks of Hope” programs, where Kyle, along with other teens and counselors, traveled to areas of poverty to conduct neighborhood clean-ups, lawn maintenance, painting houses, and clearing out garages. One year the group spent a week in Canandaigua, New York working at a camp for children with disabilities and devoted time to a nursing home helping to entertain the elderly residents. Locally, Kyle has contributed to numerous community events and fundraisers, including participating in local car washes and spaghetti dinners.  In addition, Kyle has participated in and volunteered for several 5K, 10K and triathlon fundraiser raising events, including charitable swims across the Hudson River, all to benefit the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society. Kyle’s most personally rewarding community service is the “Bread & Loaves” food pantry located in Ossining, New York. This community service calls for Kyle and his family to dedicate various Saturdays throughout the year to prepare and serve free meals to those in need within the community.

Being involved in his school, community, and volunteerism have helped shape Kyle into the person he is today. Always ready with a hand to help, Kyle will continue to donate his time to benefit the community.

Meghan McGowan lives in Yorktown Heights and attends Lakeland High School.

At school Meghan stays involved not only academically, but with clubs and sports as well. She has played softball for since freshman year and is currently on the varsity team. This year she will also be the Board of Education Representative for her grade. She is a member of the Spanish National Honor Society at Lakeland and tutors younger students in Spanish. In addition, for the past three years at Lakeland she has been involved with the SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) club and was the club’s vice president last year.

Meghan stays busy outside of school as well. The most important activity to Meghan outside of school is the Yorktown Leos Club. They are a youth community service organization that consists of middle and high school students around Yorktown. Throughout the year they assist organizations with their events, help around town, and plan their own fundraisers. At the end of the year they donate nearly all of the money to various charities. She is looking forward to this year with the club, especially since she will be President and can become even more involved.

Zoe Parower lives in Scarsdale and attends Edgemont High School. Shas been involved in the fight against breast cancer for almost 4 years. After losing her grandmother and aunt to breast cancer, both at very young ages, her mother tested positive for the genetic breast and ovarian cancer genes and chose to have prophylactic surgery to guarantee a future free from breast cancer. The summer before ninth grade Zoe took control of her own fears of the future. She began volunteering at “In the Pink,” a breast cancer support organization in Valhalla where she did office work and helped at events for breast cancer patient’s families. Zoe began babysitting for some children, often during their mother’s chemotherapy appointments. She quickly realized that she would rather donate her time than receive money for it. She started “Care during Chemo” a free babysitting service for children while their mothers go to their chemotherapy appointments or take time for themselves.

Zoe has a strong interest in research and information about breast cancer in young women and youth. In 2009 her research led to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization in New York City. She began and continues to intern in the office and at fundraising events in New York City, Westchester and Rockland County. In late 2009 Zoe also joined and now sits on the committee of Teens for the Cure, an organization made up of high school students whose families have been personally affected by breast cancer. They work together on the yearly event, “Tickled Pink,” which has raised more than $285,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation in the last 2 years.

Zoe saw breast cancer as a type of epidemic in her community. The disease affects countless families and she wanted to change this. She believes there is strength in numbers so she received Edgemont High School Board approval and started the breast cancer awareness club, Think Pink in Edgemont. The club’s primary goal is to share knowledge and encourage the students, teachers and community to become involved in making healthy lifestyle choices for themselves. The club also raises money through events such as “The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.” Since the club started they have raised over $4000 for Breast Cancer. In an effort to create awareness, Zoe designed the continually updated club Web site, www.thinkpinkinedgemont.org. 

Michelle Prakash lives in Scarsdale and attends New Rochelle High School.

In school Michelle is involved in various clubs and organizations. She is treasurer of the Key Club, participates in cancer walks, park clean-ups, hospital visits, and fundraisers for charities. She has held the position of Secretary for the Asian club, and, as President of P.A.S.S. Tutoring, coordinates the tutoring program at her school, is a mentor in the IGNITE peer mentoring program, and is part of the Science Honor Society which tutors kids in science and assists teachers. She is a member of the Math Honor Society which encourages members to help those struggling in math. Michelle is also in the National Honor Society which instills in its members a desire to excel in academics and to partake in community service.    

Outside of school, she takes part in many activities in New Rochelle. She is a member of, and Co-President for the New Rochelle City Youth Council. For the less fortunate, Michelle and the council have helped organize a Halloween Bash, collect turkeys and produce from local supermarkets and distribute Thanksgiving baskets and are involved in the Give-A-Gift program during Christmas. Each Friday she volunteers at the St. Gabriel’s HOPE soup kitchen. 

Other experiences have shaped Michelle as well. She volunteers at the Sound Shore Hospital Medical Center Emergency Room, is Community Service Coordinator for the Youth Fellowship at her church, which does various mission works outside of the country. Michelle contributed $500 of her own money towards medical treatment for a young mother in India who suffered from Myeloid Leukemia and could not afford treatment. 

Maria Elizabeth Trujillo lives in White Plains and attends Valhalla High School. Maria was born in Monterrey, Mexico, a city now known as a hotspot for an ongoing drug war. Her family moved to the United States in 2000. She believes the reason her immediate family is so close today is because no other part of her family lives in America. Her family is the foundation of who she is today.

As the youngest in her family, she learned from her older brother and sister who volunteered at the Red Cross and inspired Maria to volunteer at an early age. In eighth grade she was in charge of calling past donors and informing them of upcoming blood drives. Maria became involved with and is now part of the Gilda’s Club Youth Board. The club held awareness days at her school, and she helped at the annual acapella fundraiser.   

But by far, her greatest joy in high school came in volunteering at the Adult Day Center at the Hebrew Nursing Home over the summer. Maria feels a particular satisfaction from volunteering with the senior citizens due to the fact that two of her grandparents have recently been entered into a nursing home. With the violence in Mexico, her families annual holiday visits ceased. When she talks with the men and women at the adult day center, she hopes someone like her is there for her grandparents in Mexico. In volunteering in this capacity she has learned that it is the simple gestures that matter the most. Serving lunch, doing yoga exercises with residents, or even warming up their cold hands brings her satisfaction and she says she has her parents to thank for that. The way she was raised made her conscious of others and helped her to become compassionate and giving of her time and efforts.  

She is captain of the Valhalla High School’s winter and spring Track teams and will be captain of the Soccer team next year. She has been elected Vice President of her grade each year thus far and recently assisted in establishing a new constitution for her high school Student Government. She is also an elected officer of her school’s PEER Leadership Club and has helped set the foundation for the Valhalla chapter of Kids Helping Kids. Maria represents students in the 18^th Congressional District Youth Council sponsored by Congresswoman Nita Lowey. In the Youth Council Maria raises awareness for the ideas and concerns of her fellow youth and provides solutions to ongoing issues that arise in the community.

Catherine Van Eyck lives in Larchmont and attends Mamaroneck High School. 

Service to others has always been a big part of Catherine van Eyck’s life. As soon as she was old enough to accompany her parents and older brothers, she collected food, clothing, toiletries and money for local and national organizations. In grade school, as a member of the Girl Scouts of America, she participated in many fundraisers and charitable events. In middle school, she became active with her church Youth Group working with her peers to shop for, prepare and deliver meals to over 60 local families. When Catherine reached high school, she continued to recognize the needs of others and do something about it.

In 2009, Catherine was fortunate to meet Jenna Edwards, the Founder and President of an organization known at that time as “Queen For A Day.” The non-profit group provides play therapy programs for pediatric oncology patients in hospitals to raise the self-esteem and self confidence in young cancer patients by creating happy memories to sustain them through their treatments. Too young to interact with the young children in hospitals, Catherine gave speeches to local organizations to raise awareness and funds for the program and she staged a mini beauty pageant as a fundraiser to purchase makeup, nail polish, feather boas and tiaras. When Catherine turned 16, she was able to meet some of the brave young girls battling cancer and was able to bring some fun to those little “Queens For A Day.” For her efforts, Catherine was named the international organization’s Volunteer of the Month.

Last fall, Catherine formed C.H.A.T., Chatsworth Homework help and Tutoring, an officially recognized club at Mamaroneck High School. She recruited, trained and scheduled a team of high school students to tutor the elementary students at no charge and personally tutored children in grades 1 through 5 in all subjects. C.H.A.T. now serves as a model for other schools and will continue operating even after Catherine goes to college.

This year, Catherine will continue her work with another high school club, Students for Senegal, founded by Mamaroneck High School science teacher Amary Seck. Elected to the club’s Board in May 2010, Catherine organized and executed multiple fundraisers for the organization: barbecues, bake sales and raffle ticket sales. She collected and packaged personal items and school materials for distribution to Students in Senegal. Catherine has already begun to plan and organize this year’s club activities to help school children half-way around the world through Students for Senegal and school children right in her own backyard through C.H.A.T.