At its banquet earlier this year, Cornerstone Youth Center presented awards to two people who have made an impact on the nonprofit's mission. Peggy Warren received the Jerry Engle Volunteer Award and Briana Bender earned the Laurie Shepler Student Award.

"These are new awards that were given for the first time this year," said Cornerstone executive director Jim Bush.

 The Jerry Engle Volunteer Award is named in honor of Jerry Engle, a past board chairman and longtime volunteer.

"He was instrumental in the early days of Cornerstone and continued his service to the ministry up until he went to be with Jesus," Bush said. "His family is still a large part of the Cornerstone family."

 The Laurie Shepler Student Award memorializes a person who played a significant role in Cornerstone.

"(This award) is named after our beloved friend and former executive director Laurie Shepler," Bush explained. "For many years, she was the heart of our ministry, as she demonstrated the love of Jesus to each and every student that entered the doors of Cornerstone. She passed unexpectedly in June of 2022. Her husband, Jim, is still an active volunteer and the builder and designer of our skatepark and rock-climbing wall."

The recipient of the Jerry Engle Volunteer Award, Warren has been serving at Cornerstone for many years.

"She is in charge of our kitchen and plans and prepares meals for our youth each day," Bush said. "She coordinates the volunteers who make the meals, as well as making meals herself several times each week."

Additionally, Warren shops for all the food and other items needed for the organization's food service.

"She also helps with decorating Cornerstone for special events and activities, and she offers support in so many other ways," Bush remarked. In addition to her volunteer work at Cornerstone, Warren is active in her church ministry and serves in the kitchen at the Elizabethtown Mennonite Church.

Briana, a sophomore at Elizabethtown Area High School, was selected as the Laurie Shepler Student Award recipient because she's made a difference at the youth center, Bush said.

"Briana was chosen for this award because of her testimony and positive impact at Cornerstone," he noted. "Briana started coming to Cornerstone in the fall of 2024, and immediately we saw her encouraging other students and offering them a safe person to talk to when they were going through a hard time."

Bush described Briana as a dedicated student who diligently completes her school assignments while at Cornerstone and also offers to help other students with their homework as she's able.

"Briana cares deeply for her friends and family," he said. "She actively seeks out opportunities where she can make Cornerstone, school and home places where people are cared for and seen."

Briana also looks for opportunities to serve in new ways, he stated.

"Briana was among the first Cornerstone youth to decide to get involved in our new peer mentoring program and become a mentor to one of our middle-schoolers, giving them extra love and attention," Bush said.

Cornerstone Youth Center, located at 95 S. Wilson Ave., Elizabethtown, provides after-school programs for middle and high school students, including access to a skatepark, a rock-climbing wall, a basketball court, a coffeehouse and a music room. Students also enjoy meals and receive a Bible lesson daily. Cornerstone also provides tutoring, peer mentorship opportunities and discipleship groups. For more information, visit https://cornerstone.org.