Novato Student Wins Volunteer Of The Year Award

SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION BY NOVATO PAINT THE TOWN RED COMMITTEE:

NOVATO, CA – The spirit of volunteerism is not innate. It comes from good parenting and good mentoring in the community, including from the teachers and administrators in our public schools. Somehow, Liza Posylkin was lucky enough to get extra helpings of that spirit while growing up in Novato, and through her tenacity and generosity it’s now benefitting thousands of people.

With a stunning resume that includes more than 500 hours of community service, Posylkin was picked as the first Paint the Town Red Dietrich Stroeh Youth Volunteer of the Year. The 16-year-old San Marin High School junior was honored recently at the Novato Community Birthday Party at Novato City Hall. Three other award finalists – Eliza Roesler, Jack Weinstock and Katherine Butler – were congratulated for their impressive efforts as well.

The award is named after Stroeh, a civic leader who passed away in May 2017 at age 80. He was the inspirational leader of Paint the Town Red, an annual gala celebration to mark the city’s birthday.

Posylkin, who sports a 4.7 grade-point average, has taken on an energetic leadership role in almost every endeavor she chooses to participate. She has contributed to the Marin Teen Girls Conference, the Marin County Youth Commission, the office of State Assemblymember Marc Levine, and countless nonprofit events and causes around Novato. At San Marin High, she was the co-founder and director of the Interact Club (a teen offshoot of Rotary International), the vice president of the Bring Change to Mind Club, and San Marin’s California Scholarship Federation representative during her sophomore and junior years.

To prove that she’s mixing in some exercise with all that volunteer work, she plays varsity tennis and lacrosse for the Mustangs.

Her efforts impressed the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame so much that she was voted Teen of the Year for 2017.

“Liza embodies the qualities of a true leader and philanthropist,” said her nominator, State Farm Insurance Agent Katie Chase of the Rotary Club of Novato. “She does not get started with a project if she does not have a true passion for it. She recognizes that there is only so much time in a day and only commits to projects that are near and dear to her heart. If Liza chooses to participate, you know you will get her best work.”

Liza’s time with the Marin County Youth Commission has been particularly fruitful. As part of a group that advises the Marin County Board of Supervisors on matters important to young people, she has a strong understanding of challenges for her own generation and what current leaders can do to create positive change. She served on the Food Justice Subcommittee, which works to bring sustainable, affordable, healthy food resources to lower-income residents. Recently, Liza applied for a grant for the subcommittee, received it and used it to plant vegetables in school gardens to use in student lunches.

Liza has twice interned with Levine’s office and increased her understanding of government, politics and leadership. Earning trust quickly, she moved from handling basic office tasks to creating and delivering presentations in meetings with community organizations. By the end of last summer’s internship, she was sitting in on important meetings with Levine himself.

Liza was the only teenage member of the organizing committee for the annual Marin Teen Girls Conference, which attracts dozens of young women to learn about empowerment and being active in the community. She has been responsible with others for developing conference topics and format, making sure the event is enlightening and inspiring. As a Teen Ambassador, she helps provide the ideas, tools, resources, and support that her age-group peers need as the reach high to achieve their dreams.

Paint the Town Red congratulates Liza Posylkin on being chosen as the first Dietrich Stroeh Volunteer of the Year and thanks her for all her contributions to the Novato community.

Photo: Dale Kline (right) of the Paint the Town Red committee congratulates (from left) Jack Weinstock, Katie Butler and Liza Posylkin for their community volunteer efforts. Posylkin was the recipient of the Dietrich Stroeh Paint the Town Red Volunteer of the Year for 2017. Weinstock, Bulter and Eliza Roesler (not pictured) were award finalists. Photo courtesy of Novato Paint the Town Red Committee.