FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2013
Contact: Allison Wittern, 303-754-3443
Centennial honors outstanding youth in the community!
Centennial Youth Commission presents three Youth Achievement Awards
Centennial celebrates the development of tomorrow’s leaders in Centennial today! Three new graduates from Centennial high schools were presented with a Youth Achievement Award by the Centennial Youth Commission at a recent City Council Meeting. The Youth Achievement Award honors and recognizes youth who have made a significant impact on the Centennial community through volunteer work or other special deeds that demonstrate exceptional leadership.
The 2013 $500 scholarship recipients are Sanjana Garimella and Meredith Lutz.
Sanjana is a recent AP scholar graduate from Smoky Hill High School and plans to attend the University of Colorado at Denver/ Anshutz Medical Campus this fall. Her accomplishments include serving as Secretary for her chapter of the National Honor Society, President of the Greenhouse Club, Science Bowl Officer, Indian Dance Club President and International Baccalaureate Mentor. Additionally, she was a member of the Speech and Debate team and Council of Clubs and is a proud owner of a Taekwondo Black Belt. Sanjana is a major contributor to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event in the community and was founder of Smoky Hill High School’s very first Relay for Life event.
Meredith is a recent AP scholar graduate from Arapahoe High School and plans to attend Bucknell University this fall. Her contributions include involvement with the Arapahoe Warrior Marching and Pep Band, Arapahoe High School Pit Orchestra, National Science Bowl, National Honors Society and Warriors of the Word Bible Study. She was also a volunteer counselor for the Arapahoe High School Science Camp.
Maheema Haque, a recent graduate of Smoky Hill High School, received the $1,000 scholarship. Her accomplishments include holding positions in her school as Co-President of Amnesty International, captain of the Speech and Debate team, Indian Dance Club Vice President and State Champion of International Extemporaneous Speaking. She was also active in Model United Nations, the National Honor Society, the French Honor Society and Varsity Tennis. Maheema is passionate about human rights and has shown commitment to service projects in the community such as the Hunger Banquet, an event created by Oxfam in which the guests are fed according to the worldwide distribution of food. This is an effort to help change the way people think about poverty and hunger. Maheema believes that spreading awareness about these human rights issues takes action against poverty, hunger and injustice in our communities.
The City of Centennial’s Building Services provider, SafeBUILT, provided the $1,000 scholarship. The President of SafeBUILT, Mike McCurdie, presented Maheema the award. The two $500 scholarships were provided by the Centennial Youth Commission.