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Lindsey Wood of Thorsby was named one of Alabama’s top youth volunteers of 2020 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.

Wood is currently a junior at Thorsby High School and was chosen along with another student from Montgomery as the state’s honorees.

As part of being recognized with the award, Wood will receive a $1,000 scholarship, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. in early May.

“I definitely don’t do it [volunteer work] for the recognition, but it does feel good to be noticed and know that the good is being shared throughout the state and even farther beyond Chilton County,” Wood said.

The primary initiative Wood has been involved in since the age of 11 is her Bows that Bless ministry, which focused on helping children entering foster care by selling hair bows and T-shirts.

She has also gone on multiple yearly mission trips through her church and routinely takes part in charitable school drives as an officer in Beta Club and National Honor Society.

“We’re always looking for new ways to serve our school and our community,” Wood said.

She is looking forward to the trip to the nation’s capital, because she will be joined by the top two honorees from each state and the District of Columbia for four days.

Although Wood has visited Washington D.C. before, she understands that this time around will be much different.

“I’m looking forward to getting to hear their [other honorees] community service stories,” Wood said. “There will also be a lot of neat things we’ll be able to do.”

According to Wood, visiting the capital and a riverboat tour are just two of planned agenda items scheduled during the four-day trip.

Of those making the Washington D.C. trip, five volunteers will be selected and given an additional $5,000 scholarship and $5,000 dedicated to help their designated community service project.

“The hope is to get that money to help our projects,” Wood said.

The $1,000 scholarship she has already earned will go toward helping her pay for college once she graduates THS in summer 2021.

Wood received a statewide honorable mention for her volunteer efforts in the community two years ago.