The video announces the 2018 recipient of the Johnston Ziegler Youth Leadership Award, a merit‑based scholarship honoring a local high‑school senior who demonstrates outstanding leadership, advocacy, and service. Ava Burgess, a senior at Mallard Creek High School, is highlighted for her academic excellence as an AP Scholar with Honor, her proactive approach to challenges, and her personable, thoughtful nature in the classroom. Ava’s leadership is showcased through her roles as an officer in the Academy of Engineering, president of the Science National Honor Society, and ambassador for the Young Black Leadership Alliance. She also volunteers as a tutor, helping underclassmen prepare for the ACT, and reflects on how giving back fosters personal growth. Ava’s career ambition is to become a biomedical engineer and eventually hold a leadership position at the National Institutes of Health. The presentation concludes with congratulatory remarks celebrating her achievements and awarding her the scholarship.
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The Johnston Ziegler Youth Leadership Award is a merit-based scholarship that recognizes a local high school senior demonstrating outstanding leadership, advocacy, and service.
I'm someone who is very driven, goal-oriented, and I like to laugh.
Academically, Ava is a star. Specifically with Ava, I enjoy her as a student because she always looks at challenges and she doesn't, she doesn't shy away from them, and she's always putting in the most work possible. She's very outgoing in the classroom. She likes to get to know people for who they are and not what they know or who they know, so she's very personable with her peers. She's also very thoughtful in everything she puts in.
This Mallard Creek High School senior is an AP Scholar with Honor. with dreams of pursuing science.
I want to become a biomedical engineer. That's the career goal that I aspire to be. I want to someday work for the National Institutes of Health. If I could be the director there or some type of executive, that would really make me happy.
A star in and out of the classroom, Ava takes her love of learning and leadership into her extracurricular activities as well.
I am an officer in the Academy of Engineering. I am the president of Science National Honor Society, and I'm also involved with the Young Black Leadership Alliance. I'm an ambassador there, and I've gotten to do a lot of volunteer opportunities with them.
Ava also tutors after school, helping underclassmen prepare for the ACT.
You know, when people think of giving back, they think of just you helping that person, when in reality it's also helping you as well. It has made me into a very well-rounded and open-minded person. Leadership is important because you get the opportunity to grow yourself while you're still learning about yourself as well, because as a leader you get to learn who you truly are and how you function, and you're able to extend that to other people. I would want people to know that I'm someone who will always be there for them.
Congratulations, Ava! Woo! You deserve this.
Congratulations, Ava Burgess, Johnston Ziegler Scholarship recipient 2018.
