10 Sonoma County high school seniors honored for leadership and volunteering contributions

Ten seniors from eight Sonoma County high schools were recognized for their leadership and volunteer work Wednesday at the 31st annual Community Youth Service Awards.

Students honored at the event, sponsored by the Press Democrat, volunteered at a food bank and a memory care program. Some traveled to Central America on service projects, started youth symphony clubs and collaborated on robotic inventions. Winners, who receive $2,000, were selected from more than 120 nominees. The awards were presented at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa.

Two winners attend Casa Grande High, and another pair attend Santa Rosa High. There was one each from Petaluma High School, Rancho Cotate High School, Healdsburg High School, Roseland Collegiate Prep, Sonoma Valley High School and Cardinal Newman.

“Choosing 10 scholarship winners out of 122 outstanding finalists was very challenging again this year,” said Steve Falk, CEO of Sonoma Media Investments, which owns the Press Democrat. “Every one of these students has been willing to step up and give back to our local community; something we admire, appreciate and congratulate.”

Sonoma Valley High's Youth Award winner was senior Ava Rognlien in the category of:

Journalism/Media

Tackling sensitive social issues through dogged journalism has been the focus of Ava Rognlien’s time as the editor-in-chief at the Dragon’s Tale - her school’s student publication.

Rognlien has written pieces on immigration, sexual assault and gun control during her three years as a staff writer. She also has traveled across the country to work as a student journalist in Washington, D.C., during the 2018 March for our Lives rally.

Through journalism and new media, Rognlien believes that she can open the eyes of her peers and others in and around Sonoma County.

“I believe journalism is more important than ever due to media increase, fake news and current political polarization our country is facing,” Rognlien said.

She also has taken her passion for social issues abroad to Central America, where she volunteered with Seeds of Learning, a Sonoma-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing education to children in Latin America.

“She (Rognlien) is one of our most motivated and honest students who is dedicated to making the world a better place environmentally and socially,” said Alison Manchester, chairwoman of Sonoma Valley High’s English department. She said Rognlien has been one of her top students for three years.

Next fall Rognlien plans to attend Northeastern University in Boston, and she hopes to write for its student newspaper.