Rachel Sawyers, daughter of Kent and Michelle Sawyers, Albany, is shown with Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear during an awards ceremony earlier this past summer in Frankfort, at the Governor’s Mansion.

Rachel was one of 16 volunteers recognized from across Kentucky at the Governor’s Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service ceremony. The Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service (KCCVS) coordinates the annual awards program.

The youngest to ever receive the Volunteer Youth Service Award, Rachel used funds she raised at a lemonade stand she operates, during the 127 Yard Sale, to donate to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

While the award presented to her this past June stemmed from funds raised during the 2010 Yard Sale, she and friends repeated the effort a few weeks ago during the 2011 Yard Sale event at the home of her grandmother, Nelda Sawyers.