Brenna Mockler of Da Vinci High School and Alina Lusebrink of Davis High School were two of four local students to win Yolo Youth Service Awards from the Yolo Community Foundation for their work, respectively, with migrant education and Acme Theatre Company.

“This is one of our most important programs — to reward the contribution young people make to nonprofit agencies,” said Mary Stephens, a foundation board member. “It is amazing what they do with their time and energy.”

The award consists of a $1,000 scholarship to the student and $500 to the nonprofit with which the student worked.

Mockler worked as a youth leader in the volunteer instructional aide program at the Davis Migrant Center to support and enhance the learning of elementary migrant students in a multi-age educational setting. She wrote in her application, “Being a teacher is a huge responsibility. Both summers at Ciudad del Sol have been both extremely exhausting and exceptionally rewarding.”

Lusebrink has been with the Acme Theatre Company for three years and is now stage manager, the highest position in the company. The company presents three main-stage productions a year as well as a four-week summer program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

She wrote, “An Invisible Council of Elders handles our financial matters, which we are not legally old enough to do. We, the students, assume all responsibility for our productions. I take pride in being reliable.”

The other awardees were Agustin Villagomez of Winters (RISE Inc.) and Carlos Robles of West Sacramento (Computers 4 Kids).

Don Saylor, Yolo County Supervisor, presented each awardee with a certificate of honor from the supervisors. Representatives of Congressman Mike Thompson, state Sen. Lois Wolk and Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada also presented certificates.

Mockler will study at Cornell University next year, concentrating on her interest in science. Lusebrink will attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to major in either engineering or theater.

Yolo Community Foundation’s mission is to promote charitable giving in Yolo County. More information is available at www.yolocf.org.

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