BRUNSWICK — Today, Brunswick High School senior Julia Brown received the governor’s office’s top honor for youth volunteers during a ceremony in Augusta.
Brown, who led a health advocacy group and the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance, was named Youth Volunteer of the Year as part of the Governor’s Awards for Service and Volunteerism. She was nominated by BHS service learning teacher Rick Wilson.
Wilson, Brown said, noticed her leadership qualities early and allowed her to plan part of the course field trips and lessons.
During her time at BHS, Brown took charge of the anti-substance abuse Youth Advocacy Program (YAP) and became the first student liaison to the Brunswick School Board, in addition to serving on a variety of other community boards.
Funding for YAP through Healthy Maine Partnerships will be cut this year, Brown said, but she still hopes to provide advocacy work such as arranging for a crashed car to be placed outside of the school’s senior prom as a reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Brown also worked with the United Way of Mid Coast Maine recently, where she heard about the youth service award.
“It’s an honor,” Brown said. “I am constantly trying to prove the value of youth and the value of Maine and Brunswick through my actions. And to be able to bring this honor not only to me but on the way my parents raised me and how Rick Wilson has formed me into a service monster — that’s what got me the award.”
The youth award is granted through the governor’s office and the Maine Commission for Community Service in conjunction with National Volunteer Week to a person younger than 20 “who has contributed to the life of someone in his/her community or to the improvement of the community through volunteer efforts.”
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