Tempe High student honored

Mar 3, 2010 — East Valley Tribune

Mike Sakal

Mar. 3, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- A Tempe High senior has been selected as the East Valley Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year.

Romonia Dixon, 17, of the Ladmo Branch of the Arizona Boys and Girls Club in Tempe earned the branch's highest honor during the East Valley Youth of the Year Banquet Monday at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater in Mesa, according to information from the Arizona Boys and Girls Club.

Dixon, who is active in the "Read to Me" volunteer program for kids at homeless shelters, won the award out of a field of nine finalists. She received a $20,000 scholarship on behalf of the East Valley-based Victoria Lund Foundation, a $1,000 scholarship from through the Joe Henderson Memorial Fund, a $600 scholarship from Maricopa County Community College, a $500 scholarship from the Tempe Diablos and a laptop computer.

Dixon will attend Arizona State University where she has been accepted into the Barrett Honors College and also has been accepted into the professional program at the W.P. Carey School of Business.

The other eight finalists each received a $2,000 scholarship and they are: Araly Duran, 17, Mesa Mountain View High School, Desiree Santos, 17, Coolidge High School, Gustavo Garcia, 18, Chandler Blueprint High School, Tiffany Shepard, 17, Gilbert Mesquite High School, Komatke Marysa Lewis, 17, Phoenix Ceasar Chavez High School, Chandler Buffington, 15, Queen Creek High School, Tye Youngs, 16, Scottsdale Coronado High School, Jennifer Abrahamsen, 18, Apache Junction High School.

Dixon next will compete against other youths from around the state at the State Youth of the Year Legislative Breakfast at the Sheraton in downtown Phoenix on April 13.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0132-42523175