Senior Mia Snellenburg was awarded the Charles Riley Service Award.

According to the Charlie Riley Community Service Scholarship Foundation website, this award provides financial assistance for post-secondary education to graduating high school students who are residents of Harford County who perform and display exemplary community service.

They also provide scholarships to firefighters or EMS in the Harford County area so that they can further their training or education.

This foundation was started by the friends and family of Charlie Riley in his honor.

This foundation was created 17 years ago, and in those years they have awarded about 333 scholarships with over $400,000 in funds.

Students are selected to represent their high school and the fire and EMS companies of Harford County. All applicants must write answers to specific questions. The foundation reviews all applications and selects two overall grand winners.

Mia was told by College Counselor Kelly Smith that John Carroll chose her as their nominee. Mia competed with 11 other nominees who were represented by Harford County high schools.

Mia felt very honored to have received this award. She had been working her entire high school career in service, and she said that the money she received will go to her college tuition.

“My goal through high school has been to make a difference in our community, and to be honored for this is truly inspiring and inspires me for what is to come in my future.”

Mia hopes to be a sports agent in the future and said, “At Dickinson College, I will be majoring in international business, and my hope is to study abroad for a semester.”

This award means so much to Mia, and she feels extremely thankful to have received it.

Mia said, “I was surrounded by my favorite people and was able to be recognized for all I have done and even received a scholarship.”

Mia said one of her favorite community service memories was when she volunteered in Israel. She said, “I taught young Israeli children how to play lacrosse.”