SV High's Hannah Merrick Earns Service Award

When the Johnson City Elks Club hosts its Friday night dinners, there's usually a familiar face helping out. Susquehanna Valley High School 10th grader Hannah Merrick is there, volunteering and doing whatever needs to be done. She's there for all the club's fundraisers. She volunteers at her church. Why? "I like to help out the community - for me, it's heartwarming," she said. Her selfless service hasn't gone unnoticed. In early April, Hannah was in the spotlight at the Elks Club as she accepted a plaque signifying that she had earned The President's Volunteer Service Gold Award, from the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Points of Light. She also received a congratulatory letter from President Obama in recognition of more than 250 hours of volunteer community service.