LASD board recognizes student who received President’s Volunteer Service Award.

LASD board recognizes student who received President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Oriole News is a presentation of Ludington Area School District in partnership with Mason County Press.

LUDINGTON — O.J. DeJonge Middle School sixth grade student Sawyer Hendrickson, 11, of Ludington, was recognized Monday by the Ludington Area School District Board of Education for being a recipient of a President’s Volunteer Service Award. 

 The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. 

Sawyer Hendrickson is devoted to serving her country. She spends numerous volunteer hours preparing thousands of stockings to send to troops overseas during the holiday season. This year alone, she sent over 10,000 stockings and 25,000 care packages filled with goodies and necessities to those that are deployed. She does this through her non-profit organization, Miss Sawyer’s Kids with a Cause. Her tagline, “Making A Difference In The Lives of Our Veterans and Active Duty Military, One Smile at a Time.” Sawyer has walked at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, laid Goldstar roses at Arlington National Cemetery, handed out patriotic painted rocks, visited wounded warriors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and speaks at numerous events nationwide. Sawyer truly exemplifies volunteerism for the good of our country.

In its 25th year, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), recognizes students across America for outstanding volunteer service. 

“Across the United States, young volunteers are doing remarkable things to contribute to the well-being of the people and communities around them,” said Prudential Chairman and CEO Charles Lowrey. “Prudential is honored to celebrate the contributions of these students, and we hope their stories inspire others to volunteer, too.”

“Demonstrating civic responsibility through volunteerism is an important part of life,” said NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti. “These honorees practice a lesson we hope all young people, as well as adults, will emulate.”

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