The Youth Community Service Award Program has been the Women’s Association of Hilton Head Island’s most visible community effort for more than 40 years. Begun in 1980 as an idea of Carol Wolf, 1979-80 President, it was designed to reward Hilton Head Island students. The first award was a $75 savings account earned by Peggy Carey, a junior at May River Academy.
By 1984, the organization presented a pre-teen award of $100 and a teen award of $200. In 1986 the amount jumped to $500 and remained there until recently when it increased again. Until 1994 the Youth Awards were given to students in various grades, from sixth graders to high school seniors.
The Youth Community Service Awards program now recognizes local graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated exemplary service to the community. The number and amount of awards presented each year vary based on WAHHI’s finances.
Well over 100 students have been recognized since the program’s inception in 1980, and thousands of dollars have been awarded. These monetary awards honor recipients’ civic contributions.
WAHHI’s Youth Service Awards are made possible by donations and fundraising through WAHHI members and events. Thank you to the WAHHI women who make this program possible for our community.
Each year, the Women’s Association of Hilton Head Island (WAHHI) recognizes outstanding high school seniors with the presentation of the Youth Community Service Award. These students have given hundreds of hours of their time through their schools and in multiple organizations in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island.
The following high school seniors were selected as recipients of WAHHI’s 2026 Youth Community Service Awards:
From Hilton Head Island High School: Elizabeth (Lizzie) Markowitz
From Classical Conversations Homeschool Community: Georgia Denckhoff
From May River High School: Myla Greene
From Bluffton High School: Tamyra Bolden
From Bluffton High School: Rebecca Wohn
From Heritage Academy: Carlisle (Carly) Clarke Anthony
WAHHI thanks these amazing students for their service and dedication to our community, and we are pleased to share their bios. We wish them the very best!