Mueller Named Youth Resources’ 2017 Youth of the Year

By Jeremy Brown

Youth Resources named 18-year-old Abby Mueller as its 2017 Youth of the Year during its 23rd Annual Hall of Fame Celebration Wednesday morning at the Holiday Inn Airport.

As voted on by Youth Resources’ Board of Directors, Mueller was tabbed Youth of the Year as a result of her creation of Job Search Resource Books for Albion Fellows Bacon Center clients.

Mueller obtained a Make A Difference Grant from Youth Resources to cover the printing costs of the book that provides tips for how to conduct oneself, answer interviews questions, how to dress, and also includes empowering quotes to give readers encouragement as they seek employment.

“Abby’s passion was evident within her project,” said Rachel Gumble, Albion’s Community Engagement Director. “It is so refreshing to see a youth in our community with fervor for helping others the way that Abby does.”

Mueller, a senior at Reitz, was one of many outstanding youth volunteers recognized at YR’s fundraiser designed to highlight the accomplishments of youth and adult volunteers in the community. Mueller was joined by McGary’s Champ Brinkley, St. Ben’s Josee Gibson, North Junior High’s Geoffrey Greer, New Tech Institute’s Samantha Johnson, Mater Dei’s Grant Riordan, North’s Emily Westrich and Castle’s Landon Eisenhut, Sophie Fanok, Hadley Mosby and Audrey Watson as 2016-17 Youth of the Month winners.

New Tech Institute’s Dawson McIntosh and Faith Straw were tabbed Outstanding Seniors for their leadership within YR’s programs the past four years. Memorial seniors Kaylee Barton and Joey Gerteisen were honored with the Nancy Sieben Koehler Mental Attitude and Robert “Scooter” Tiemann Servant Leadership awards, and Bosse senior Meghan Stewart received the Nancy Sieben Koehler Scholarship. Barton, Gerteisen and Stewart have served significantly with all of YR’s programs throughout their high school tenures.

Eighty-six Youth Resources’ seniors were also recognized for their community service endeavors with YR’s Make A Difference Grants, Teen Advisory Council, Vanderburgh Co. Teen Court and TEENPOWER programs over the past four years.

Dedicated Youth Resources’ adult volunteers Angela Koehler-Lindsey and Chip Tiemann received Outstanding Volunteer recognition Wednesday morning, while Lucas Keck and Erin Meyer were both tabbed Outstanding Alumni for their continued service within YR and around the community.

Youth Resources also celebrated the completion of 13 Make A Difference Grants projects during the academic year. Representatives from Fun for Foster Families, St. Wendel and Reitz were on hand to present their service projects to the audience of nearly 150.

Jeremy Brown is the TEENPOWER, Special Events & Communications Coordinator at Youth Resources.