West Point youth wins Prudential Spirit Award for volunteer work

Nicholas Petersen, 17, of West Point has been selected as a recipient of one of this year’s President’s Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.
The award recognizes those who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their community. Nicholas participated in the Spirit of Community program this year as a representative of Cuming County 4-H program, where he is a 10-year member of the Clever Clovers 4-H Club.
A senior at West Point-Beemer Public High School, he earned his award by helping out a senior citizen who broke both wrists after falling from a ladder.  When the recipient was “Life Flighted” to Omaha, Nicholas fed the cattle that were at his home.
Even after the person’s recovery, Nicholas has continued to help him around the home, which gave him more time to farm. Tasks that Nicholas assists with include grinding feed for the livestock, cleaning gutters, discing for spring field work, baling hay and mowing.  
He has also organized workdays to harvest his crops and cut wood to heat his home.
Nicholas is the son of Jeff and Pam Petersen, West Point.