The Herald Bulletin

Three local high school students recently received Charles H. and Hazel Dickmann Youth Community Service Awards, given by the Anderson Rotary Club.

Laura Bohlander, a senior at Elwood Community High School; Brittany Branson, a senior at Highland High School; and Amber Brown, a senior at Alexandria-Monroe High School, received the awards for their contributions of time, talent and energy to charitable endeavors.

Each of the winners received a $1,000 scholarship, and a matching $1,000 gift went to a local entity that serves the community. The scholarship and gift money comes from the Dickmann Youth Community Service Fund at the Madison County Community Foundation.

Laura Bohlander: Bohlander coordinated a cheerleading camp for children at the Alternatives Inc. shelter. She also volunteered to sing at a candlelight vigil in Elwood for victims of domestic violence and recruited other youth to participate in domestic violence awareness activities in Elwood.

Bohlander is a graduate of the Youth Leadership Academy of Madison County, a 10-year member of the Blue Ribbon Aces 4-H Club, Madison County 4-H Queen for 2007, and ranked No. 1 in her senior class.

Alternatives was named as the beneficiary of a $1,000 gift given in her name.

Brittany Branson: As a member of the Scholars of Character since her freshman year, Branson has helped organize food drives, helped create gift baskets for homebound elderly, and volunteers regularly at events for the YMCA, Character Counts and The Literacy Coalition.

She is also a student leader in an after-school literacy program for students who read below grade level at Southview Elementary School in Anderson.

A $1,000 was given in her name to Scholars of Character.

Amber Brown: Brown has been involved at the Alexandria Community Center since the eighth grade, when she began teaching Spanish and bracelet-making classes for the summer enrichment program. Brown was asked to become a member of the board of directors because of her leadership skills, positive character qualities, and her involvement with the Youth Leadership Academy of Madison County.

The Alexandria Community Center was the beneficiary of the $1,000 gift given in her name.

These Dickmann awards are funded each year from the Dickmann Youth Community Service Fund held by the community foundation. The fund, created in 1998 by a $100,000 endowment, honors and encourages the volunteer efforts of young adults completing their high school education at a Madison County school.

Thirty students and 30 charities have been beneficiaries of $39,700 from the Dickmann Youth Community Service Award program since 1999.

Members of the Anderson Rotary Club, of which Charles Dickmann is a 55-year member, selected the award winners and hosted the April 22 luncheon where the awards were announced.