Congressman Dreier and Amanda Aguilar, photo courtesy of Congressman Dreier's office
Press Release posted 5/17/12 – Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas) honored the efforts of young volunteers at his 2012 Youth Volunteer Award (YVA) Program last week. Forty high school students from throughout the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire participated in this year’s program. In addition to the winner and runners-up, each of the program’s participants was recognized for his or her service to their community.
This was Rep. Dreier’s twenty-sixth and final YVA program. Dreier began the annual award program in 1986 to honor area high school students for their volunteer community service. “Over the years, meeting and honoring young volunteers has been an inspiring and informative experience,” Dreier said. “These young people are making time to assist people within their communities and bring attention to causes that need help. Their decision to volunteer is commendable and I congratulate them all for their service.”
The 2012 YVA Program was held on Friday, May 11th, at 8:00 p.m. at the Arcadia Community Center. To participate in the YVA Program, students were required to submit an application, write an essay on volunteerism, and provide a letter of recommendation. They were then interviewed by a board of community leaders about their volunteer activities.
The 2012 YVA Program winner is Amanda Nicole Aguilar. Amanda hails from Monrovia and attends Monrovia High School. Amanda needed thirty hours of community service in order to graduate and determined she wanted to do more. She volunteered time maintaining and stocking the shelves at Hastings Ranch Library in Pasadena. She also participated in multiple service clubs including Interact, Kiwanis, Rotary and serves as president of Key Club. She recently became a member of “Monrovia Area Partners Leadership Academy”. Amanda’s own family benefited from the service of others. That experience led her to give back in other ways. Amanda has given her time to the Foothill Unity Center by initiating school food drives and recruiting students to volunteer. Every week she does everything from
Nicholas Budincich, photo courtesy of Dr. Michael Budincich, click to enlarge
clerical work to packing food, to helping grateful clients to their cars with their groceries. Her volunteerism has made her community and family very proud.
Receiving Honorable Mention was Nicholas Budincich from Sierra Madre, who attends Loyola High School in Los Angeles. Nicholas and his father have made trips to aid the needy in Mexico, assisted disabled kids at a summer camp called Barnabas, cooked breakfast and lunch for the homeless men, women, and children who live in the facility at Union Station in Pasadena and also volunteers at his church to lead the Youth Worship Band.