McLean Teens Recognized for Their Character

Five McLean teenagers will be honored for their character at the 15th annual Teen Character Awards ceremony held at McLean Day on Saturday.

Three public school and two private school students, all of whom live in McLean, were selected this year. These teens have demonstrated outstanding character because they have, on their own and without compensation, helped out in their neighborhood or community. They are also recognized as role models to others.

This year's winners of the award established by the McLean Citizens Association are:

Scott Feit – Senior, McLean High School. For volunteering at Share. Scott reconfigured and reassembled old desktop and laptop computers donated by community residents into high-speed computers used by Share clients for student homework projects and family Internet access.

Keo Hashemi –Junior, Bullis School. For volunteering at INOVA Fairfax Hospital. For three hours every Saturday for over a year he has helped in the patient recovery room, transporting specimens, delivering flowers and helping to comfort patients.

Lauren Kliska – Sophomore, Flint Hill School. For volunteering at Share the past three years. In 2008, Lauren decided to seek donations of socks for the annual Share holiday celebration and managed to gather about 650 pairs of socks — one pair for each Share client.

Craig McKenzie – Sophomore, Langley High School. For volunteering at the Teen Center and for special events at the McLean Community Center. Craig was a participant at the Teen Center as a seventh-grader. After he aged out of the program, he became a volunteer staff member. He also one of two student members of the McLean Community Center board.

Christine Meyer – Junior at Langley High School. For volunteering at Sunrise Assisted Living. Christyhelps the senior residents with arts and crafts, helps them design memory boxes, makes root beer floats for their afternoon socials, decorates for their parties and assists in their exercise classes.

The award ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday  at Lewinsville Park as part of the McLean Day activities.John Foust, Dranesville District supervisor; Janie Strauss, Dranesville District School Board member; and Rob Jackson, McLean Citizens Association president will present the awards.