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Optimists award Hiner, Shearer top youth award

Optimist Club President Todd Nightenhelser (left) and Huntington North High School Principal Chad Daugherty (right) pose with HNHS students (from left) Anthony Beery-Bennett, Audrey Hiner and Zach Shearer, who earned the club's Youth Appreciation awards.
Optimist Club President Todd Nightenhelser (left) and Huntington North High School Principal Chad Daugherty (right) pose with HNHS students (from left) Anthony Beery-Bennett, Audrey Hiner and Zach Shearer, who earned the club's Youth Appreciation awards.

Huntington North High School students Anthony Beery-Bennett, Audrey Hiner and Zach Shearer are the recipients of the Huntington Optimist Club's Youth Appreciation Award for 2013.

Beery-Bennett has been a member of the HNHS marching band and jazz band, earning numerous awards in music contests and helping to resurrect the HNHS drumline. He has also performed with the Heritage Junior-Senior High School percussion band and with a garage band that performed in Fort Wayne.

He is a member of youth group and 4-H and has participated in many volunteer projects, including a work camp trip to Los Angeles, CA.

Beery-Bennett will receive an academic honors diploma from HNHS. He plans to attend Butler University to pursue the recording studies program and perform in the Butler marching band.

Hiner, a member of the National Honor Society, will earn an academic honors diploma from HNHS. She is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Campus Life and Youth for Christ. She has volunteered in the middle school Campus Life program, Youth Services Bureau, Special Olympics, Operation Backyard, Walk for Hope and Natural Helpers.

She is a scholar athlete and has served on the Student Athletic Board, Class Council and Variety Show committee. She was a member of the Psychology Club and been a member of the softball, volleyball and bowling teams at HNHS.

Hiner plans to attend Butler University, studying for a career as a physician's assistant.

Shearer, the son of Greg and Julie Shearer, has operated a dog kennel at his home since he was in fifth grade.
He is a member of Future Farmers of America, 4-H. He has participated in the Youth Leadership Academy, freshman mentoring, Class Council, and the Variety Show steering committee. He was a Junior Rotarian, participated in church missions trips and has volunteered at Love INC, the PAL Club's Kids Club and Bible School. He is a member of Faith Chapel United Methodist Church youth group.