Lillian Sherburne is one of two students chosen as Maine’s 2018 top youth volunteers by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Sherburne will receive an engraved silver medallion, a $1,000 scholarship and a four-day trip to Washington D.C. in April when she will join the top-two’s from the other states and where 10 students will be named the US’s top youth volunteers.

Sherburne has been volunteering since the age of 12, beginning with Boothbay Region Elementary School’s Health Advisory Board (SHAB) where she learned about leadership and advocacy.

“Throughout middle school and all of high school I’ve been a part of SHAB and have served as president both as a junior and senior,” said Sherburne. “This group has shaped and molded me into the leader I am today …”

While working with SHAB, Sherburne helped create an award-winning public service announcement, hosted blood drives and wellness days, and joined with community businesses to battle substance advertising targeting children and teens.

Sherburne is also involved with Boothbay Region YMCA and has served on the BRYMCA Board of Trustees as the youth representative since her sophomore year. This has enabled her to advocate for after school programs and for free membership for teens, and create a youth government program.

“This position has given me the opportunity to advocate for the youth in my community while learning the logistics of advocacy in a more adult-oriented world,” Sherburne said. “I have an amazing support system at the Y and serving on their board has become one of my passions. I’ve come to love the early board meetings and enjoy seeing familiar faces while volunteering at the Y’s road races or as part of Leaders Club.”

These are only two examples of Sherburne’s work in volunteering as she scoops up opportunities to help whenever she is able. Never considering she would be named Maine’s top high school volunteer when applying for the scholarship, Sherburne said she figured it might have been a familiar face from the number of leadership conferences she has attended, but never herself.

“We’re incredibly proud of Lilly,” said BRHS Principal Dan Welch. “She takes volunteering very seriously and it is a part of who she is. It comes from a real genuine interest in her community (and) Lilly’s work is a tremendous honor for our school.”

While in Washington D.C., Sherburne will attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and will have the opportunity to meet Maine’s congressional representatives on Capitol Hill.

If Sherburne is named to the National top youth volunteers, she stands to receive an engraved gold medallion, crystal trophy, another $5,000 scholarship and a $5,000 grant to a nonprofit charitable organization of her choice.

Said Sherburne, “It’s an incredibly humbling experience and I am beyond excited to continue my work in advocacy and volunteerism. I could not have done any of this without my mentors, peers and community. All I can say is thank you.”