Louisville senior honored for service

Louisville High School senior Nadia Gonzalez Barranca is being honored for her long hours of service as an altar server, confirmation leader and eucharistic minister. She is one of the few recipients of the Christian Service Award due to her almost 500 hours of community service during her senior year.

The honor is given to high school seniors who have made a significant contribution to their community. Seniors attending the 51 Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are eligible for the award. The recipients were honored during a March ceremony.

Barranca said that community service has its own reward.

“I get to be not only in touch with the people, but I get to be in touch with God,” she said. “Each time I serve, I put all my heart and soul into my actions and in return I get nothing more than the greatest gift — the illumination of God’s grace to me through the eyes and hearts of those that I serve.”

Barranca has an interest in business and plans to study economics after graduation. While in college, she also plans to continue to serve.