Twenty-four high school seniors in McLennan County are being recognized in the 31st annual Youth Citizenship Awards sponsored by the Rotary Club of Waco and the Waco Tribune-Herald .

Five of the students will be announced as award winners at a Rotary luncheon Monday at the Lions Den. One will be selected as the Outstanding Young Citizen. All five finalists will receive scholarship money with their awards.

Judges use the Rotary Club’s motto of “Service Above Self” in choosing the award recipients.

Each nominee was selected by his or her high school. Students submitted a detailed application listing their school achievements and volunteer activities. A letter of recommendation from someone familiar with their volunteer efforts is part of the application.

Sarah Ali

Vanguard College Preparatory

Parents: Dr Samina Ali and Yasin Ali

Activities, volunteer highlights: Organized Mission Waco book drive; junior volunteer at Providence Health Center; volunteer at World Hunger Farm, Cameron Park Zoo and McLennan County Central Library; Sul Ross Elementary School garden cleanup; sophomore class treasurer.

Future plans: Major in biology with a minor in neuroscience or psychology, then enter medical school with possible career path in cardiology or pediatric oncology.

Brandon Bordovsky

Axtell High

Parents: Khaki and Wendel Bordovsky

Activities, volunteer highlights: Student body president, led Food for Families drive; PALS mentor to at-risk children; American Cancer Society Relay for Life; volunteer at Mart Nursing Home; Muscular Dystrophy drive; Carter BloodCare drive; water bottle for local fire department; mentor mentally handicapped through church.

Future plans: Pursue degree in aerospace engineering at Texas A&M University for a career in aeronautical research and development.

Jose Cordero

University High

Parent: Kandi Metcalf

Activities, volunteer highlights: Battalion commander with Junior ROTC; performances with color guard at events; Trojan Tyke Boot/Fun Camp; Thanksgiving meals for homeless; help direct traffic at various events; band.

Future plans: Major in criminal justice at Sam Houston State University and start career as police officer, then become a homicide detective.

Ethan Deike

Mart High

Parent: Rhonda Deike

Activities, volunteer highlights: Current senior advisor and former vice president on the McLennan County Junior Livestock Show Youth Board; senior class treasurer; student government vice president; Mart FFA president; Mart Methodist Church activities such as cleaning city park and serving meal at fall festival.

Future plans: Earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University and do an internship with the U.S. Marshal’s Service or another federal agency and later work for one of those agencies.

Kyndall Holecek

West High

Parents: Christine and Gregory Holecek

Activities, volunteer highlights: Adopt-A-Grandparent program with Junior Catholic Daughters of America; West High Student Council president; director for Teen ACTS retreat at church; Heart of Texas Fair & Rodeo Sweetheart; Junior Historians; Key Club; Future Business Leaders of America; Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Future plans: Study corporate communications at the University of North Texas toward working for a nonprofit organization.

Megan Hill

Valley Mills High

Parents: Mary and Tommy Hill

Activities, volunteer highlights: Created April’s Angels benefit and cancer support group prior to the death of her mother, April Chase; Relay for Life volunteer; stocked food pantry; Thanksgiving holiday meal.

Future plans: Major in pre-med at Texas A&M University, then go to medical school and study radiology to become a diagnostic radiologist and work in a hospital.

Garlin Gonzalez

Reicher Catholic High

Parents: Jerri and Willie Gonzalez

Activities, volunteer highlights: Mission trips to Haiti after the 2009 earthquakes with Acts of Mercy International, to Uganda to build houses with Restoration Gateway, and to inner-city San Diego; Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Bosqueville; member of TAPPS state champion track team.

Future plans: Major in engineering or a math- or science-related subject at Texas Christian University, Baylor or the U.S. Naval Academy.

Kelsey Engeldinger

Connally High

Parents: Dawn and William Engeldinger

Activities, volunteer highlights: Junior Volunteer at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, serving in Mother and Baby and pediatric wards; Cadets in Action; Cameron Park Zoo Boo; National Honor Society president; Key Club vice president, including Brazos River cleanup, blood drives and canned food drives; volleyball team captain; student council.

Future plans: Major in pre-med/biology, then enter medical school toward pursuing a career in pediatrics.

Brianna Denaye Eby

Moody High

Parents: Sandra and Allan Eby

Activities, volunteer highlights: Beta Club secretary; band drum major and section leader; Fellowship of Christian Athletes; student council treasurer; volunteer at Cotton Harvest Festival and community Thanksgiving dinner through school clubs; library and band aide; assist with children’s church and choir member.

Future plans: Obtain a bachelor’s degree and possibly a master’s en route to becoming a physical therapist.

Dillon Drobena

Bruceville-Eddy High

Parents: Cindy and Alex Drobena

Activities, volunteer highlights: As Beta Club president, led Toys for Tots and St. Jude’s Hospital drives as well as Thanksgiving Day luncheon for elementary students among service projects; school band president; student council member; volunteer at Hewitt Public Library.

Future plans: Earn master’s degree in computer science at University of Texas at Austin after first year at UT-San Antonio. Wants to be a computer programmer.

Carolyn Hoy

Crawford High

Parents: Debbie and Bill Hoy

Activities, volunteer highlights: PALs member, including tutoring elementary students, working blood and food drives and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure; Fellowship of Christian Athletes officer; Beta Club; UIL Elite 100 Conference; summer mission trips; volunteer at Westview Manor nursing home in McGregor and at horse camps.

Future plans: Major in journalism at Dallas Baptist University with the intent of working for a newspaper or magazine as a journalist.

Megan Kittner

Bosqueville High

Parents: Missy and David Kittner

Activities, volunteer highlights: Zoo Crew member at Cameron Park Zoo; Bosqueville Outreach Program; summer mission trips with Seventh and James Baptist Church youth group; tutoring students for TAKS; lifeguard at McLennan Community College; Heart of Texas Soccer and UIL soccer referee.

Future plans: Earn associate’s degree in education at Cottey College in Nevada, Mo., then transfer to obtain bachelor’s in education with focus in science and/or zoology. Wants to become educational curator at a zoo.

Dan Fen “Tina” Lin

Midway High

Parents: Xian Sheng Lin and Hui Bai Chen

Activities, volunteer highlights: National Honor Society; senior class president; Spanish Club treasurer; Link Crew member; tutors from China at Castleman Creek Elementary; volunteer at Hewitt Public Library, Wesley Woods Alzheimer’s Care Center and VA Hospital.

Future plans: Major in finance or accounting at either the University of Texas at Austin, New York University or Wake Forest University. Wants a career in banking industry, possibly internationally.

Jessica Mendoza-Jaimes

McGregor High

Parents: Raquelina and Alcadio Mendoza

Activities, volunteer highlights: PALs member, works with first-graders; Relay for Life volunteer; scholarship fundraising enchilada dinner; Toys for Tots; Meals on Wheels during summer; altar server, Sunday School teacher and canned food drive helper at church; tutor at high school; band section leader.

Future plans: Attend McLennan Community College then transfer to a four-year school to study nutrition and become a nutritionist.

David Miller

Waco High

Parents: Beth and Gary Miller

Activities, volunteer highlights: Mission trips with Lake Shore Baptist Church to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and to Philadelphia, Kansas City and Macon, Ga.; World Hunger Farm volunteer; community playground; National Honor Society treasurer; student council.

Future plans: Attend either Trinity University or Baylor University and major in political science with minor in economics. After graduation, attend Baylor Law School to focus either on constitutional law or become a trial lawyer.

Kendall Newman

Robinson High

Parents: Lisa and Terry Newman

Activities, volunteer highlights: Helped organize tennis tournament to benefit player’s father; Hometown Mission holiday assistance; Shattered Dreams drug awareness program; church youth group mission trip to South Texas after Hurricane Rita; regular blood donor; band drum major and section leader.

Future plans: Earn bachelor’s degree in music education at Texas Tech University and teach secondary education as a band director.

Diamond Winburne

La Vega High

Parent: Danielle Romero

Activities, volunteer highlights: Teaching first-graders at children’s church camp and vacation Bible school; PALs member, including Habitat for Humanity service; varsity cheerleadering captain; National Honor Society, including Food for Families and nursing home visits; student council historian; visit children at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center.

Future plans: Earn bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Texas at Austin and become a second-grade teacher, perhaps later an elementary school principal.

Nash Turbeville

Rapoport Academy

Parents: Misti and Kenneth Turbeville

Activities, volunteer highlights: Co-founded MAD (Making A Difference) with twin brother, Alan, at age 13 and did service projects; Mission Waco, including “Tips for Bricks” that raise money from music performances to build a school in Haiti; Church Under the Bridge; My Brother’s Keeper homeless shelter; Relay for Life.

Future plans: Attend the University of North Texas and double-major in jazz studies and math; get certified to teach music and math. Seeks a career in jazz performance.

Lauren Tidmore

Texas Christian Academy

Parents: Shirley and Donnie Tidmore

Activities, volunteer highlights: Motion, a youth outreach program at Highland Baptist Church; mission trips to Boston and Chicago; Toys for Tots; Joy’s School of Dance performances at local events; class vice president; National Honor Society; cheerleading captain.

Future plans: After two years at McLennan Community College, transfer to Baylor and major in journalism and minor in English and public communications.

Caley Stone

China Spring High

Parents: Cherrie and Roy Stone

Activities, volunteer highlights: Drum major and section leader with band, including highway cleanup; National Honor Society vice president; student council officer with projects such as Habitat for Humanity and Food for Families; summer mission trips with church as well as family group youth leader and vacation Bible school.

Future plans: Attend Texas A&M University and pursue a career in social work as well as work with Christian missions.

Rachel Russell

Parkview Christian Academy

Parents: Leisa and Steve Russell

Activities, volunteer highlights: Care Net Crisis Pregnancy Center, including fundraising for Walk for Life; Waco-McLennan County Public Library; summer mission trip to Indian reservation in Arizona; student council president; Operation Christmas Child shoebox drive; chaplain of senior class.

Future plans: Attend McLennan Community College and apply to nursing program; plans to use medical training to help the less fortunate in a Christian mission field.

James Y. Rauhut

A.J. Moore Academy

Parents: Shawna Sibley, Keith Rauhut and Lonnie Sibley

Activities, volunteer highlights: Key Club president, led effort to grow club and to partner with groups such as Miracle Match Marathon, Meals on Wheels, Cameron Park Zoo and Race for the Cure; tutor children after school at Dewey Recreation Center; YMCA lifeguard; swim team captain; Teen Leadership Waco.

Future plans: Earn bachelor’s degree in business administration at McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin; work with a benevolent company or a nonprofit organization.

Kelsey Wood

Riesel High

Parents: Cathy and Jody Wood

Activities, volunteer highlights: Riesel Youth Athletic Association; church mission trip to Pittsburg, Texas, to repair an elderly woman’s home; senior class president; softball team MVP; Fellowship of Christian Athletes; National Honor Society.

Future plans: Major in animal science at Texas A&M University and then attend veterinary school to eventually open a small-animal vet clinic.

Taylor Johnston

Lorena High

Parents: Sherre and John Johnston

Activities, volunteer highlights: Coach Little League basketball team; Shattered Dreams organizer; Talitha Koum fundraiser; Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo Sweetheart; Kids Zoobilee; autisic support group; Hailey Cockerham cancer benefit; Mayborn Museum volunteer; First Baptist Woodway youth group.

Future plans: Attend Baylor University and pursue master’s degree in communication disorders to become a speech pathologist for children.

RELATED SEARCHES

• A.J. Moore senior named Outstanding Youth Citizen
• Rotary Young Citizens Award luncheon 2011
• EDITORIAL: Community can take pride in young leaders honored by Waco Rotary Club