Lake Wales, Fla. — The 2011 Edward Bok Youth Peace Award winner is Hillsborough High School graduate Ashira Pelt. The award was presented by Bok Tower Gardens during the Third Annual WMNF Peace Awards in Tampa last month.
“As a partner sharing common goals with Tampa community radio 88.5 WMNF, we appreciate the opportunity to recognize youths like Ashira whose lives exemplify our mission and Edward Bok’s legacy,” Gardens’ President David Price explains. In addition to being an environmental activist and public health crusader, Bok was an advocate for world peace. In 1923, he created the American Peace Award, providing $100,000 for the best plan for international cooperation to achieve and preserve world peace.
Pelt was selected for her pioneering and inspiring work in the WMNF Hillsborough Youth Collaborative Radio Project and her work as co-founder of the Florida Youth Against Hunger. With more than 17 percent of Florida households lacking access to a consistent, well-balanced diet, Pelt rallied 13 youth statewide to raise awareness about hunger. The team planned and executed a statewide event on August 13 in Tallahassee, Tampa and Miami calling on leaders to find short and long term solutions to hunger. They fought to reverse funding cuts to programs that have been successful in combating hunger in the past while encouraging collection of non-perishables and donations to local food banks.
Pelt graduated with a 6.2 grade point average from Hillsborough High School where she served as president of her school’s Best Buddies chapter creating opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also served two years on the Mayor’s Youth Corps and volunteered as a counselor and member of the board of directors for Community Tampa Bay. After earning both a traditional diploma and an international baccalaureate diploma, Pelt is continuing her education at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts.
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About Bok Tower Gardens:
Voted Florida’s best garden, Bok Tower Gardens is a National Historic Landmark located 10 miles from LEGOLAND® Florida, 55 miles southwest of Orlando and 60 miles east of Tampa near Lake Wales in Central Florida’s rolling hills of citrus. Open every day of the year from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., last admission is 5 p.m. The Visitor Center, Café and Gift Shop are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $3 for ages 5-12. Members and children under 5 are admitted free. LEGOLAND® Florida ticket holders will receive free admission for children. For more information contact Bok Tower Gardens, 1151 Tower Boulevard, Lake Wales FL 33853; 863-676-1408 or visit www.boktowergardens.org
