Soroptimist club presents volunteer awards to students

Soroptimist International of Carson City recently honored Avery Hudak and Caitlin Sinclair, winners of the Violet Richardson Award.

This award is bestowed upon Carson High School seniors who exemplify commitment to community service, exemplary volunteerism and efforts to enrich the experiences of others in society, at school and at home.

Hudak is active in 4-H, volunteering her time and frequently taking on a leadership role. She was instrumental in getting the 4-H involved in assisting with the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) 5K run. She helped with advertising and set-up and went on to run the race, finishing as the top teen female runner.

In honor of Hudak, a donation was presented to Jim Barcellos on behalf of the Carson City Storey County 4-H Council.

Sinclair volunteers mostly through her church, St. Teresa of Avila, and helps the homeless through the health department's Homeless Connect program, babysitting while parents attend the Circles Initiative classes. Through her youth group, she helps families elsewhere in the country, including a service trip to Yakima, Wash., Indian reservation. Most recently, Caitlin chaired the Charity Committee at Carson High School, which raised funds for the Invisible Children organization that rebuilds schools in war-torn Uganda. Her committee of four grew to a club of more than 90 students, raising more than $2,500.

In honor of Sinclair, a donation was presented to former youth leader Doug Stewart on behalf of the St. Teresa of Avila Senior Core group.

In recognition of Sinclair's efforts to help both locally and abroad, Soroptimist International of Carson City has chosen her application to submit to the Sierra Nevada Regional Violet Richardson Award competition.

The Violet Richardson Award is named after the president of the first Soroptimist club in 1921. Richardson believed in personal responsibility, and the motto "It's what you do that counts." She was committed to creating opportunities for girls and young women.

For further information, call Soroptimist membership chairwoman Marilyn Lewis at 882-4875 or president Sherry Griffin-Grundy at 297-4890.