Prairie High student earns Uncommon Student Award for being youth mentor

CEDAR RAPIDS — Prairie High School senior and member of Linn County 4-H Ethan Strecker is one of five recipients of a $10,000 scholarship for his hard work as a youth mentor.

Strecker is a recipient of the Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award, a scholarship program for Iowa high school students who are motivated and community minded, according to a news release earlier this month from Linn County 4-H.

The award is named in honor of Herbert Hoover, an Iowa native and 31st president of the United States. Projects students propose should demonstrate the values that Herbert Hoover exemplified in his life of public service. Grades, test scores, essays and financial need are not evaluated as a part of the award.

Strecker was awarded for his hard work as a youth mentor for FIRST LEGO League, a program for students in grades fourth to eighth to work together to invent new solutions to real-world problems. Students in the program build and program robots using LEGO products to compete against other teams in regional, state and international levels.

Strecker given his time and expertise to a FIRST LEGO League team that meets at least weekly during the fall and winter. He also continued to mentor the youth and train them as science, technology, engineering and math peer leaders throughout the spring and summer.

The group attended several community events and day camps for younger elementary-age students to share their expertise in coding and robotics.

“We congratulate Ethan as a positive role model for younger students and for his spirit of volunteerism,” a 4-H spokeswoman said in a news release. “It has been a joy for our Linn County 4-H staff and volunteers to guide him and encourage him as he learned through these roles.”

While many Uncommon Student Projects have a defined beginning and end, some projects continue after students graduate from high school and are eligible for the Mariah Becker Award Volunteer Leadership Award.

Strecker applied for and received this award as well for leading a First LEGO League team in the offseason, teaching and inspiring their peers to explore science, technology, engineering, arts and math at camps and events.

The Mariah Becker Award includes a $500 stipend to be given directly to the organization carrying on the project, which is Linn County 4-H.

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