In addition to the Distinguished Service Award, the group’s highest honor, four other awards were presented.

The Distinguished Service Award has been given by the Jaycees each year since 1955. Other awards presented Thursday included the Outstanding Senior Citizen, Outstanding Public Servant, Young Educator of the Year and Outstanding Teenager of the Year.

The Distinguished Service Award for 2008 went to Sherry Wilson.

Nominees for this award must be between the ages of 21 and 40 and demonstrate exemplary qualities of leadership during their lifetimes. They need not be Jaycees.

Wilson has been a member of the Jaycees for three years and has participated in the Jaycees-sponsored Roxboro Junior Miss, South Boston Speedway raffle, Adopt a Highway, Adopt a Family, Adopt an Elderly Person, Haunted House, Roxboro Christmas Parade, Distinguished Service Award, Person County Spelling Bee and the Jaycees’ stew.

During her time with the Roxboro Jaycees, Wilson has served as secretary and as a board member of the organization. In 2007, she was named the group’s Key Leader.

The winner of this year’s Outstanding Senior Citizen award was Mrs. Mary Stanfield.

Stanfield retired in 1989 after a career as a teacher in Person County. She has worked for the Person County Board of Elections and served on the Christian Help Center Board until joining the staff of the CHC in 1999. In January, Stanfield was named executive director of the Christian Help Center. She also serves as a Sunday school teacher at St. James Baptist Church.

The Outstanding Public Servant award went to Brandy Horton of the Roxboro Fire Department. Other nominees for the award included North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper John Pointer and Roxboro Police Sgt. Shawn Williams.

South Elementary School teacher Jenny Hurdle received the Young Educator of the Year award.

Others considered for the award included: Jennifer O’Briant, Bethel Hill Charter School; Jenny Walker, Helena; Gina Faragher, North Elementary; Kelli Kiser, North End; Andrea Hughes, Oak Lane; Kara Roberts, Person High School; Christy King, Roxboro Community School; Angie Phillips, Southern Middle; Emily Dallas, Stories Creek; and Anna Bettendorf, Woodland.

Lindsey Hensler received the Outstanding Teenager of the Year award. Others nominated for the award included Cristina Alcaraz, Brian Phillips, Tracie Holt, Meagan Tatum and Demonica Gentry.