Keep America Beautiful’s 2018 Youth Advisory Council Scholarship, created for graduating high school seniors who are actively involved with Keep America Beautiful at a national or local level, was presented to Celia Kornegay of Thomasville, Georgia, and Maegan Mikkelson of Cape Coral, Florida. The Scholarship funds were raised during the 2018 Keep America Beautiful National Conference in Dallas, Texas.

Celia, a senior at Thomas County Central High School, has steadily grown a passion for the environment. Throughout high school she been involved locally with Keep Thomas County Beautiful and most recently served on its board of directors. While there, she spearheaded an organization dedicated to environmental awareness called the Environmental Ambassadors –- a group of students that raised awareness to inspire students to not litter, beautify their community, and recycle more. Celia plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology this fall to study Civil Engineering.

Maegan, a senior, has a deep devotion to help keep her community clean, green and beautiful. Over the past few years, she has served on Keep Lee County Beautiful, Keep Florida Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful’s Youth Advisory Councils in various positions. Maegan’s passion for the environment shines when she leads regular waterway cleanups, invasive plant removal events, Litter Free Places initiatives. Through her dedicated service, she learned about the issues facing her community’s environment and how she can help protect native ecosystems in southwest Florida. Maegan will attend the University of Central Florida this fall.

Keep America Beautiful’s National Youth Advisory Council provides a unique opportunity for high school students from diverse backgrounds across the nation to participate in a service-learning and leadership development program. Keep America Beautiful selects 10 students nationwide to contribute to and inform Keep America Beautiful on programs, while acting as ambassadors and leaders for youth service in their communities.

To learn more about Keep America Beautiful’s Youth Advisory Council, and our other educational programs and resources, click here.