SHENANGO VALLEY Urban League honors teenage siblings

Honors were handed out at the Urban League's 36th annual banquet.
WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. -- Siblings Francis and Martha Howell are the recipients of the Shenango Valley Urban League's 2004 Youth Achievement Award.
The two children of Kerry Howell were honored at the Urban League's annual dinner Thursday at Oak Tree Country Club. The award recognizes both academic and community achievement and leadership.
Francis, 15, is a ninth-grader at Kennedy Catholic High School in Hermitage and Martha, 13, is a seventh-grader at Monsignor Monti School in Farrell.
Both are involved in the Urban League's Village Mentoring and Summer Youth Apprenticeship programs, Reading Buddies, Camp Kids, Minority Health/ERASE Safe Haven Tutor Challenge Program and the Weed and Seed "Seeds of Hope" community beautification project, among other things.
Francis is a Boy Scout and a teen volunteer at Sharon Regional Health System. Martha is a Girl Scout, involved in softball and cheerleading and is a member of a drill team.
Corporate leadership
The Urban League also gave out its Corporate Leadership Award and Community Service Award during the banquet.
Dean Dairy Products of Sharpsville received the corporate award, presented to companies that maintain a strong and supportive relationship with the Urban League. From its founding as Brookfield Dairy in 1931, Dean Dairy has been a strong supporter of local charities and the community.
The Farrell/Sharon Weed and Seed TALL Team was named recipient of the community service honor.
The Target Area Local Leadership Team is made up of 28 highly motivated individuals destined to lead the way to the rebirth of the 60-block Weed and Seed area along the Farrell-Sharon border.
The group of volunteers has been in Institute for Leadership, Education, Advancement and Development training since March 5, 2002, and will graduate from that program June 24.