Henry Hughes is a Senior at Pleasant Grove High School. Henry stands out as a human being who embodies the attributes of leadership and citizenship. I have associated with Henry in several capacities, and it has been a pleasure to watch him grow into the exceptional young man that he is today. I have had the opportunity to work with countless young men in my life as a Scout leader, religious leader/teacher, coach, etc., and Henry stands out among all those young men. In fact, as a university professor, I seldom see incoming university freshmen (let alone high school seniors) with Henry’s maturity, intellect, and kindness.
When asked to complete a task, it is always done with a smile. When the task involves mentoring or serving another individual (or group of individuals), Henry always exudes kindness and concern. He always goes above and beyond. The way he serves motivates even adults to do and be better. He is a model of what a leader should be in his reliability, attention to detail, and empathy and compassion for others.
Henry has the biggest heart of any teenager I know. I watch him care for and include peers who might otherwise be excluded by others because English is not their first language, or because their skin color doesn’t match that of the majority, or because of some personality quirk, or any number of other things that might lead to being excluded or even picked on. As a result of his care and compassion for others, people flock to Henry. He does not strive to be noticed or popular (in fact, his natural tendency is to avoid the spotlight and attention), but because of who he is as a guileless human being, people want to be with him. They feel safe, seen, and valued when with him. Furthermore, I watch how, as an older brother, he is kind and compassionate to his siblings, their friends, and other younger children in the neighborhood.
Congratulations Henry! We commend you for being an amazing example in our community and know that your influence is seen and noticed by others. Keep up the great work and keep making a difference!
