Post Falls youths honored with Mayor’s Awards

Owen Dewitt helped fill food boxes for the needy at Christmas time.

He filled hundreds of plastic eggs for an Easter egg hunt.

He’s helped plan and organize events for the Fire department.

When his teachers or classmates need help, he’s first to volunteer.

The 5-year-old preschooler was the winner in his age group for this year’s Post Falls Mayor’s Youth Awards.

Hundreds of children and teens from Post Falls were nominated for this year’s awards, which were handed out last week in Post Falls.

Owen, winner of this year’s award for an individual child age 5 to 7, is entering kindergarten in the fall.

“Owen’s enthusiasm for life and everyday selflessness has not only helped many who will never know him, but has shown to be contagious for those that have,” his father’s fiancée, Carmel Abblitt, wrote in nominating Owen.

Other recipients are:

“Frederick Post Kindergarten students, nominated by Principal Julie Billetz, won the group award for the 5 to 7 age group.

The students planned a Christmas surprise for residents at Guardian Angel group home in Post Falls, Billetz said. The students made ornaments for the residents, visited the home and performed a short concert.

“Many residents don’t have family to visit with them and so they are lonely and the children wanted to make them feel special,” Billetz said.

Participating students included Avery Anderson, Kimra Clemens, Charles Coleman, Justin Crooks, Drake Defrance, Trevor Dismukes, Jacob Ferguson, Ricki Fisher, Jace Fisher-Waxbom, Guy Frantz, Scott Gibson, Alexander Hall, Sean Hall, Matthew Hanna, Roger Huntman, Darcy Miller, Jack Rousar, Jazmyn Smith, Michael Studebaker, Deidra Tso, Justin Whitehill, Timothy Wigen and Kira Ybarra.

“Ponderosa Elementary student Madeline Baker (individual award, ages 8 to 11) was nominated by a neighbor for her work promoting the history of Post Falls. Madeline is involved in creating historical murals to be displayed throughout town. She approached the City Council about the project in 2006, later presented the proposal to the Post Falls Historical Society and teamed with artist Linda Fabrizius to work on the murals. She applied for and received grants to fund the project.

“Cub Scouts Blake Griffiths, Joseph Nelson, Sam Ramey, Lance Toombs and Alex Schwartzmeyer were winners of the age 8 to 11 group award. They were nominated by den leader Lori Nelson for serving the community through annual fundraisers benefiting the Post Falls Food Bank. They also collected donations for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and the city of Post Falls’ annual “Plant-A-Tree for Free” program.

“Brittney Ratzlaff, a River City Middle School student, won in the 12 to 14 age group. Ratzlaff has participated in the Saddle Up for St. Jude trail ride for five years, raising money for St. Jude’s Children Hospital. She helped paint the fence of the arena at the North Idaho Fair Grounds as part of the Kootenai County Saddle Club. She also raised money for the Salvation Army at Christmastime. Her numerous volunteer activities include helping at nursing homes and working with children.

“Bella Voce, a Post Falls Middle School choral group, was the winner in the 12 to 14 group category. Teacher Rebecca Vellucci nominated her students for traveling to five retirement, convalescent and rehabilitation centers to perform holiday music.

“They took the time to visit, shake hands and be gratefully hugged by many,” Vellucci wrote.

Students participating are Annette Ault, Sydnai Colosimo, Delayne Dye, Rowan Endres, Allycia Erickson, Tiandra Hawk-Laine, Dusty Huffman, Destiney Luchi, Klaira Luna, Jami Main, Candace Marshall, Shauna Neil, Sara Nicholes, Missy Ragan, Jacelynn Reiber, Myranda Riley, Selena Rutherford, Aliceson Schanley, Larisa Stavis, Ewing Taylor, Shelby Utley, Brianna Andersen, Maryah Butterfield, Shaylynn Campbell, Krista Carlson, Sarah Cooper, Julie Crawford, Breauna Dechenne, Justine Delaney, Miranda Eby, Alex Hansen, Erin Hilsenkopf, Chia Ikefuna, Samantha King, Chelsea Lexa, Shelby Livingston, Mariha Mata, Jenna Mehr, Sierra Monti, Hannah Rhoades, Myda Rojas, Chantelle Ryser, Amber Seale, Paige Struckmeyer, Lacy Tamasonis, Jessica Taylor and Mandy Todhunter.

“Mikayla Ludiker of Post Falls High was the winner in the 15 to 18 age group. She was nominated by her friend and classmate Kayla Possman, who described Mikayla as a “volunteer genius.”

Ludiker volunteers with the Mayor’s Youth Commission, Teen Action Council, Key Club and plays tennis. She has been involved with the Crazy Socks Club since middle school. The club purchases socks for pediatric cancer patients to wear in the hospital.

“She is a good kid that enjoys just helping out wherever she can,” Possman wrote.

“Post Falls High’s Leadership Class won the 15 to 18 group award. Teacher Samantha Cooney nominated the students for their work in the Link program, which aims to help incoming freshman feel welcome and become involved in school. Students in the Leadership Class also helped with homecoming activities, making posters and decorating. They also raised $3,500 for the Boys & Girls Club Jordan Johnson Center, which is being built in Post Falls.

“It was incredible to see the passion and emotion these students put into this worthy cause,” Cooney wrote.

Students in the leadership class are Emily Beutler, Jordan Brownlee, Tim Claflin, Cameron Cook, Deanna Daniels, Emily Danielson, Mike Dornquast, Ariel Dunn, Charlie Evans, Amanda Harrington, Brittany Hasty, Megan Hoggatt, Amanda Jibby, Candice Librande, Cassie Loeffler, Jessika Maatta, Stephanie Peugh, Jimmy Pond, Riley Robins, Zach Rogers, Mathew Shaw Jr., Devin Skipper, Katillia Swaney, Casey Thomas, Nikki Tonasket, Allyssa Andrus, Brittani Atwood, Angela Barr, Hailey Byrne, Brittany Fox, Alicia Holsapple, Curtis Homuth, Felicia Jackson, Dana Kolar, Adam Lippert, Karen Lohman, Lauren Mamola, Kyle Marshall, Kandice McCarthur, Brittney Nelson, Colin O’Brien, Kayla Possman, Robyn Reader, Kaleb Retz, Amanda Santoro, Jeff Scott, Shawn Slinkhard, Melinda Soltys, Katy Tessier, Jared Townsend and Angie Whalen.