Mayor Jared Carr has made his selection for the 2023 Mayor Lyle Anderson Gold Leaf Award for Volunteer Service recipients.
Carr selected Eliana Henery as this year’s youth recipient and Eric Adams as this year’s adult recipient.
"We had some very deserving individuals nominated for this award, but at the end of the day, Eliana Henery and Eric Adams stood out. Their service to the City of Lebanon stands as an example to all our community. Volunteers are at the heart of what makes Lebanon such a great place to live."
Eliana Henery
Henery, a Lebanon High School junior and daughter of Sarah and Jason Stewart and Corey Henery, was nominated for her volunteer efforts in Lebanon and across the state.
In Lebanon, Henery volunteers at the Fostering Hope Closet and works to help support the local foster care community. For the past, several years she has volunteered by sorting donations at the facility and by working at respite events, caring for infants and toddlers.
Henery also serves with the youth at Hillcrest Baptist Church and in the local faith community, she has given presentations at Upward Basketball, and has been a speaker at Lebanon’s Fields of Faith.
Henery has helped raise funds for Ukraine and has helped to foster understanding across cultures through her service with the LHS International Club.
Outside of Lebanon, Henery serves as a volunteer at the USO at Fort Leonard Wood and a is a state leader in the Missouri State Society for Children of the American Revolution. She was recently elected to serve the Missouri State Society as president and her president’s project will be raising funds for Wagons for Warriors.
Besides her volunteer work, Henery is a member of several clubs and organizations including the LHS Color Guard, National Honor Society, Laclede County Civil Air Patrol, Wreaths Across America, and Rotary Interact.
In 2022, she was selected to attend the Missouri Rotary Youth Leadership Academy.
Eric Adams
Adams, a Lebanon High School art teacher, was nominated by colleague Elizabeth Barker.
An accomplished photographer and photojournalist, Adams works to document student activities and has produced numerous documentaries celebrating the accomplishments of Lebanon students.
Adams has worked with students to create murals in Downtown Lebanon and assisted students in producing a documentary celebrating Lebanon’s 150th year in public education.
“Eric's passions for in-depth storytelling and community service are evident in the work of his students,” Barker said.
Barker said Adams has donated countless unpaid hours to the youth of Lebanon through 4H instruction, church youth groups, Scouts and through sponsorship of the Art Club at LHS.
“Eric is patient, compassionate and forever projecting a positive attitude, even through adversity,” Barker said. “Many of Eric’s most devoted students come from the at-risk demographic and the kids know he accepts them unconditionally.”
Carr said choosing this year’s Gold Leaf Award recipients proved difficult because there were several outstanding individuals nominated in each category.
“Lebanon would not be the wonderful place it is without the commitment of our dedicated volunteers,” Carr said. “We appreciate all the volunteers that work tirelessly to make Lebanon a great place to call home.”
Both Henery and Adams will receive their awards at the Lebanon City Council meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. April 24th at Lebanon City Hall.