Defiance teen honored for volunteer efforts

2/7/2004

DEFIANCE — A Defiance student is being recognized for her volunteer work and will receive a $1,000 award and an expense-paid trip to Washington in May, when she will be in contention for America's top youth volunteer honors.

Austin-Nichole Zachrich, 15, was named one of Ohio's top two youth volunteers by the Prudential Community Awards, which honors young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism.

The teen, a sophomore at Defiance High School, designed a new cable-access program in the Defiance area and recruited local students to help produce interviews, skits, and serious discussions of topics.

A second area student, Suzanne Saunders, 15, a sophomore at Bowling Green High School, is one of eight finalists recognized for community service. Suzanne is co-founder of a nonprofit organization that helps serve the educational needs of children affected by AIDS in Africa.