South Ripley Junior High Student Receives Power and Hope Award

The Indiana Electric Cooperative gives the award to students making a difference in their community.

Keeton Miller. Photo provided.

(Versailles, Ind.) – A South Ripley Junior High School student has been recognized for making a difference in his community.

Keeton Miller was among four honorees at the Indiana Electric Cooperative annual meeting on December 4.

Miller received the Youth Power and Hope Award for his participation in the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Indiana. He is also active in his church where he is part of the youth group and a volunteer. He volunteered this summer to mow the Versailles town square and update the town’s Christmas lights.

In addition, Miller and his sister applied for a grant to recreate the wetlands at their school, and he supported the recent Wreaths Across America program by making wreaths to be placed on veterans’ graves.

The other three recipients of the 2023 Youth Power and Hope Awards were: 

Leah Cox, Plainfield. Cox is an eighth grader at Plainfield Community Middle School. She is a National Junior Honor Society member and assists with a kindergarten class. She participates in the Special Winning Attitude Team (SWAT) through her karate dojo where she will eventually teach younger students the skills she is learning. Cox also volunteers at her church and fosters cats with her family.

Chloe Kramer, Greensburg. Kramer is a seventh grader at North Decatur Junior-Senior High School. She has worked at Versailles State Park renovating its nature center and participated in its Clean Up a State Park Day. Kramer also spends time at local nursing homes where one of her favorite activities is bringing in a baby goat to interact with residents. She is active in 4-H and her church, and has organized food drives. She recently taught 100 adults to make bracelets at a ladies’ night out sponsored by a local radio station.

Avery Schwartz, Auburn. Schwartz is a sixth grader at DeKalb Middle School. Last Thanksgiving, her family participated in a community Friendsgiving event feeding individuals and families in need. At Christmas, she volunteered at an event helping younger kids make Christmas gifts. Schwartz has also volunteered at the Fort Wayne BMX track and has accumulated 50 volunteer days there. This past summer, Schwartz participated in a fundraiser at the Eckhart Public Library and handed out school supplies at two schools. Recently, Schwartz was chosen to represent her school on the Junior Achievement student leadership board.