Redmond teens Alex Vaschillo, Jake Whitten, Michelle Solomon and Sabrina Hsieh were honored at the July 6 Redmond City Council meeting as winners of annual Community Scholarship Awards presented by City of Redmond Teen Programs, American Legion Post 161 and Faith Lutheran Church.

Each of the students received a $1,500 scholarship for outstanding volunteer work.

• Whitten is an Eagle Scout who served on the initial advisory board at the Old Fire House Teen Center and was an active participant in Redmond’s Police Explorer program, giving more than 150 hours of service this past year.

• Vaschillo volunteered more than 150 hours tutoring math students and serving as the youth advocate on the City of Redmond’s Innovative Housing Review Panel.

• Solomon gave more than 150 hours of service as an active participant in RYPAC (Redmond Youth Partnership Advisory Committee), tutoring elementary students and starting a new club which matches developmentally disabled children with high school mentors.

• Hsieh could not attend the ceremony at the City Council meeting, because she is in Taiwan for the summer, teaching English to elementary students. But she has performed more than 200 hours of community service in the past year, working with RYPAC and at a Chinese school where she volunteers as a teacher’s assistant on Saturdays.

Representatives of the American Legion and Faith Lutheran Pastor Mark Peterson were present to congratulate the scholarship recipients.

Gary Compton of the American Legion commented, “These scholarships are earned beyond just academics, they provide opportunities for students who have given back to the community. We encourage others, any business, individual or organization to step forward with their contributions to continue to expand this program, so more teens can earn a scholarship through community service.”

For information about the scholarship program, contact American Legion Post 161 at (425) 883-0161.