YouthLINC honors kids for humanitarian efforts

A Utah group wants to recognize high school and college students who dig into community and humanitarian service with up to a $5,000 scholarship.

The YouthLINC Young Humanitarian Award offers four $1,000 awards for runners-up and one $5,000 scholarship to one student displaying exceptional service work.

Applications are available at www.youthlinc.org. The deadline is March 10. Finalists will be announced at the YouthLINC annual benefit in Salt Lake City April 29.

"In the past six years, we've seen hundreds of young people pass through our program and become really turned on to service. So we know they exist, but in relative obscurity," said Judy Zone, director of YouthLINC (Youth serving the Local and International Needs Community). "We think it's time to recognize and celebrate the dedication of Utah's young humanitarians."

The winner of last year's premier award, Britnie Anderson , a junior at the University of Utah, had traveled to China, Guatemala, Peru and Kenya for humanitarian work, and spearheaded efforts to bringing a Kenyan girl to the United States for surgery.