Annual Garvis Huff awards presented

Tanner Kelson, Marty Harris and Sharon Mohrmann were each recognized last week at the annual Garvis Huff Memorial Outstanding Youth and Youth Advocate Awards Ceremony held in the Orange County High School auditorium.
The Garvis Huff Awards, given by the Orange County Youth Commission in honor of original commission member Garvis Huff, are awarded to one student in sixth through eighth grade, one student in ninth through 12th grade and one youth advocate. Recipients are nominated by members of the community for their outstanding community service, extracurricular activities and citizenship.
This year, 18 students were nominated in grades six through eight and nine were nominated in grades nine through 12. Three adults were nominated for the youth advocate award.
Locust Grove Middle School (LGMS) student Tanner Kelson took home the Garvis Huff Memorial Outstanding Youth Award for the sixth through eighth grade category. In the submitted nomination, Kelson is described as an outstanding young citizen who has participated in many activities without expecting any type of reward other than satisfaction in knowing he has helped someone in need. He is president of the National Junior Honor Society, through which he has conducted a food drive, volunteered at an elementary school carnival and provided free childcare at parent information night. He is also a member of the school's Student Council Association (SCA) through which he participated in a food drive, school beautification project, after-school tutoring and collected school supplies.
"Tanner is a most effective leader," LGMS Principal Martha Roby said. "He participated in the People to People World Leadership Conference held in Washington, D.C. where he had the opportunity to witness the impact that good leadership has on people in a community. He has also earned school citizenship awards at both Locust Grove Elementary and Locust Grove Middle Schools."
Winning the Garvis Huff Memorial Outstanding Youth Advocate Award for grades nine through 12 was Orange County High School student Marty Harris. Harris' nomination describes him as an outstanding student, volunteer soccer coach, a 4-H Camp counselor and 4-H club officer. He attended the summer Governor's School for Agriculture at Virginia Tech and has been recommended for induction in the National Honor Society.
He is an outstanding public speaker who has been an advocate for the Orange County Cooperative Extension and 4-H programming. Harris developed and taught an soccer class at camp and was an able and willing helper to campers.
"Marty is bright, intuitive, and analytical," Orange County High School Principal Eugene Kotulka said. "He sees a need and does something to address it. He is very mature for his age and sets high standards for himself and those around him."
Orange Elementary School teacher Sharon Mohrmann received the Garvis Huff Memorial Outstanding Youth Advocate Award. Mohrmann was described by Orange County Youth Council Chair Ebony Brown as a remarkable teacher who spends countless hours, both personally and professionally, supporting the youth of Orange County.
She has served on the Orange County High School After-Prom Committee since 2000, most of the time as co-chair.
She operates the Orange Elementary School Terrific Tuesday Program, an after-school enrichment program that has served more than 250 students using only donated materials.
She was a Girl Scout leader from 2000-2007 and is involved with Orange Presbyterian Church as a Sunday School teacher and Bible School teacher. Mohrmann has also assisted in raising $10,000 to enable the Prospect Heights Middle School Destination Imagination team to participate in global competitions and assists with a local swim team.
"Sharon is a strong teacher who constantly supports the academic, spiritual and physical well-being of our children," Brown said. "She serves as an informal mentor for students who may be having difficulty and always offers a smile and a word of encouragement. Her energy is boundless when someone is needed to help a child."