“I am most appreciative and humbled to have received this honor,” First Lady Gayle Manchin.  “It is particularly meaningful to me that Lew McManus was from Raleigh County, and I knew what a unique, extraordinary individual and legislator he was; therefore, I hope he would be proud that a fellow Raleigh Countian had been distinguished with his award. “

The first lady shares this prestigious honor with past recipients including Jessica Lynch, Gov. Cecil Underwood, Charleston Philanthropist Ed Maier, David and Susan Hardesty, U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller and West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney.

"Our first lady embodies the core principals of HI-Y: Service, character and leadership," said David King, executive director of the West Virginia HI-Y Leadership Center. "She is an outstanding role model for our participants and an incredibly deserving honoree."

HI-Y Youth in Government, Camp Horseshoe, HI-Y Model United Nations, Teen Entrepreneurship Camp at Horseshoe, civic leadership and entrepreneurship education are programs supported by the Ohio-West Virginia YMCA and its HI-Y Leadership Center. Already these programs are reaching youth in more than 260 communities in 52 counties in West Virginia. The center’s focus is to help youth become more responsible for their own lives, be a more responsible citizen of the community and to be better motivated, prepared and committed to lead and serve. For more information go to www.hi-y.org