Sentinel photo by SIERRA BOLGER
Pictured from left, high school seniors Elaina Peachey and Ava Baker receive the Service Above Self Award from Jeff Gum.

LEWISTOWN — Rotarians’ sole purpose is to give their time, emotion, compassion and willingness to help the community without pay.

To honor their future rotarians, member Jeff Pickett announced the distinguished guests at Tuesday’s rotary meeting, including two seniors who received the Service Above Self Award for 2026.

This award is given out once a year to one senior from each high school in Mifflin County, who exemplifies service above self attributes.

“This is the highest honor for Rotarians,” said Jeff Gum, a rotary member who oversees the Service Above Self Awards and vice president, managing director of Kish Benefits

Consulting.

Mifflin County High School senior Ava Baker and Mifflin County Christian Academy senior Elaina Peachey were presented with this award on Tuesday afternoon at their mid-monthly meeting.

Each student devoted their time to volunteering and giving back to the community in more ways than one.

Baker volunteered at the LUMINA Center in Lewistown and sent out greeting cards to nursing homes in addition to other acts of service, all while pursuing softball and her schooling. After receiving her award, Baker shared that she plans to attend school Gettysburg to major in health science and play college softball at the Division III level.

After undergrad, she plans to attend Penn State’s Commission assistant program to become a psychiatric physician assistant and, hopefully, be part of the Rotary Club of Lewistown in the future.

Gum raved about the 128 hours of service work Peachey pursued. Mentoring kids, promoting the Kiwanis Club, working with churches and in the nursery. She is continuing her schooling in early childhood development.

Noting that each student deserved this award for being so generous and for giving their time to their community, Gum acknowledges that these are teenagers who could be doing many other things, but they would rather help others.

“These students embody the spirit of service above self,” said Gum.

Each student also received a monetary contribution from the Lewistown Rotary Club to help pay for school books.