Shrewsbury – Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services, Inc. (SYFS) has announced the 2012 winners of its Outstanding Youth of Shrewsbury Awards. The awards will be presented at SYFS's 8th Annual Gala and Awards Dinner to four Shrewsbury youths for their service and accomplishments. The Community Advocate is the media sponsor of the event.These individuals will be honored at the Annual Gala and Awards Dinner to be held Saturday, Feb. 11, from 6 to11 p.m. at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury. Anyone interested in sponsorship or volunteer opportunities for the gala can contact SYFS at 508-845-6932 or visit www.syfs-ma.org or email [email protected].This year's winners are Romaine Campbell, Grade 12, Shrewsbury High School; Kelsey Giordano, Grade 12, Shrewsbury High School; Kevin Harrington, Grade 11, St. John's High School; and Hannah Levine, Grade 12, Shrewsbury High School.Romaine Campbell is a compassionate, hard-working, and positive young man who inspires and energizes others by his demeanor and outlook on life. Overcoming many of the obstacles his Cerebral Palsy has presented him, Romaine focuses his efforts toward helping others: he is a junior deacon at his church, an active member of the Pathfinder Club, a volunteer leader for his congregation's Thanksgiving and Christmas food drives, and a member of a choir that sings carols to senior citizens during the holidays.Sept. 11 had a profound influence on Kelsey Giordano. Her father was in one of the Twin Towers on that day; remarkably, he survived. This event helped to transform Kelsey into the leader she is today. She won the Presidential Award for Educational Excellence, is a member of the National Honor Society, is vice president of the Spanish National Honor Society, and a member of multiple service clubs like Helping Hands and Students for a Medically Aware Community. Kelsey was also able to overcome a two-year battle with an eating disorder.Kevin Harrington works tirelessly for children with special needs and for veterans. His twin brother, Robert, is autistic. Kevin strives to educate his peers about children with autism. He helped build a home for a veteran and his family. Every Friday afternoon, Kevin heads to Worcester to volunteer with “Afternoon Tunes,” a program that provides free music lessons to inner-city kids. He has done volunteer work at Veterans Inc. in Worcester and at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Bedford.Hannah Levine was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma prior to entering seventh grade. While her strength was evident during her months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, it was her actions during and after her recovery that displayed who she truly was – a special young leader. Her activities include working at Camp Sunshine, singing in a mixed choir, playing varsity tennis (captain in 2012), and acting in school musicals, fall plays and variety shows. Hannah has also devoted her time to two cancer awareness charities: Relay for Life and the 15-40 Connection.
