Outstanding Volunteer: Ava Steele

Few 13-year-olds are as driven as Ava Steele. Last year, she took the ACT and earned a composite score of 33 on the college entrance exam, while acing the science section! The accomplishment prompted the University of Nebraska - Lincoln to offer her a full ride scholarship to further her pursuit of a career in architecture.

Besides being incredibly intelligent, Steele is also invested in her community. While visiting the W. Clarke Swanson Branch, she saw information about volunteering during the Summer Reading Program and immediately signed up to help. Steele said that she enjoys helping to shelve books and DVDs. “When I’m shelving, I find books that look interesting and I check them out, so I go home with an armload of books. I’ve read a lot of books that I otherwise wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to,” she said.

Congratulations on all you’ve accomplished, Ava, and thank you for your contributions to OPL!