York Honors Four 'Outstanding Youth'

By Amber Lester Kennedy Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Four York County teens have been honored by the Board of Supervisors as “outstanding youth.”

Rand Irons, Shannon Kuster, Brooke Frix and Elizabeth Roberts were chosen for the four “outstanding youth” awards given annually by the board. Citizens can nominate teens worthy of recognition in the categories of Compassion, Courage, Community Service and Overall Achievement. Each recipient receives a $500 educational scholarship and a letter and certificate from the board.

Irons received the Outstanding Youth Award for Overall Achievement. The Grafton High senior is ranked third in his class with a 4.56 grade point average, is an Eagle Scout and has been appointed as a student representative to the York County Career and Technical Education Council.

He has served as president of the Grafton National Honor Society and as a leader in the Future Business Leaders of America; he has placed first at the regional and state FBLA competitions for three consecutive years. He also participates on the policy debate team and is active in his church, where he attends a 6 a.m. seminary class every day prior to the regular school day and is an ordained lay priest.

York High senior Kuster was honored for her community service. Kuster has completed more than 500 hours of community service in high school.

Since her freshman year, she has worked as a 4H Peer Teacher Volunteer at the Yorktown Victory Center, volunteering eight hours a month during school and 16 hours a month in the summer as a costumed interpreter. She has also volunteered as an intern at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center and with York County Library’s summer reading programs for children.

With the encouragement of her AP Art teacher, Kuster founded a National Art Honor Society at York High. This year, the members painted musical instruments to sell to raise money for charity.

She is a competitive swimmer and Red Cross-certified lifeguard and instructor, and serves as a Skills Tester for Special Olympics.

Frix was recognized for her courage. In the first semester of her freshman year at Tabb High, Frix was struck with severe headaches. Doctors discovered a large mass in her skull, which was diagnosed as a benign brain tumor. She underwent surgery to remove the tumor and was unable to return to school full-time until December.

Early in her second semester, Frix found out the tumor had returned and grown to its original size. But before her second surgery, an MRI showed the tumor was shrinking. Surgery was postponed so doctors could monitor her condition.

Despite the interruptions and painful headaches, Frix maintained A’s and B’s. “Brooke has not succumbed to self-pity, depression or despair but instead has continued to brighten her corner of the world with sunshine, a resilience grounded in faith and a positive attitude that is rare and contagious,” said her English teacher and nominator Mary Dawson.

Roberts was honored for her compassion. The York High senior serves as president of the Key Club, which saw its membership jump from 20 to 90 members in her tenure. Under her leadership, the club has sponsored food drives and donation projects, participated in the Diabetes Walk and Special Olympics programs and initiated a mentorship program at Yorktown Middle School.

Roberts is also active with the Special Olympics. She regularly has lunch with an athlete who participates and invited that person to attend a basketball game with her and her friends. She asked York’s Special Education staff to contact the parents of other special needs students to see if more could participate in a spring outing to a soccer game.

At York High, Roberts is a member of the National, Spanish and Math Honor Societies, editor of the yearbook, captain of the varsity field hockey team and student council historian. “Liz is one of the most compassionate, self-directed students that I have ever encountered,” said her nominator and guidance counselor Felicia Highland. “She is always optimistic and every time I see her I am enamored by her warmth.”