West student wins national volunteerism award

Nearly three years ago, Kara Zehner started helping at a therapeutic riding program. A few months later, she got involved with a program that raises money to train dogs to detect land mines.

Never did she imagine that those two things would lead to an unexpectedly exciting trip to the principal’s office at West Middle School.

But that’s exactly what happened last week when Kara, 13, learned she was one of two Colorado winners of the 2010 Prudential Spirit of Community Award.

The award honors 102 students — including one middle schooler and one high schooler from each state and the District of Columbia — for their volunteerism. The winners were announced Tuesday.
Each winner gets $1,000 and trip to Washington, D.C., in May for several events.

“I went in and everyone is in there clapping for me and saying I won,” she said. “It was just amazing. I was about to cry.”

Kara shared the news with her family, but they had to keep it secret until the announcement this week.

She said she was excited about the trip because she loves history and Washington D.C. The money, she said – and mom Julie concurred – goes straight into the college fund.

“We’re really proud of her,” said Julie Zehner. “These were things she came up with on her own and she was doing them without looking for any recognition.”

Kara said she’s ridden horses since she was a tot, so when she heard about the Colorado Springs Therapeutic Riding Center at Mark Reyner Stables she decided to volunteer. She helps clean up after the horses, gets them ready for riders and leads them while therapists work with riders.

“What I really like best is watching the kids and the horses have a good connection,” she said.

She was in sixth grade when she joined the Children Against Mines Program (Champs), which raises money to train dogs to detect land mines left around the world. She now heads the West Champs club, which has raised a few thousand dollars toward the $20,000 needed for one dog. The group sells  T-shirts, runs concessions and does other activities.

“I love animals and I love helping people,” said Kara, who will attend Coronado High School next year and wants to become a teacher. “Winning an award for doing that is even better.”