La Grange Chamber of Commerce President Tyrone Morgan, Citizen of the Year Lorraine Allen, and Penny Dawson. Photo by Catherine Hardee / Neuse News

LA GRANGE | The La Grange business community gathered Tuesday night to honor citizens, including their youth.

The La Grange Chamber of Commerce held its 34th Annual Banquet at the La Grange Community Center and named its Young Citizens of the Year, Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year.

The event featured a dance performance by students of Gotta Dance School of Performing Arts and a keynote speech by former Kinston mayor and Neuse News publisher B.J. Murphy.

Awards for Young Citizen of the Year were presented to three students, one from each of the schools serving La Grange.

Carlos Avila from La Grange Elementary School received the award, with his teacher, Gwen Smith, commending his kindness, cheerful disposition and love for others.

Science teacher Kristen Davenport from E.B. Frink Middle School presented a Young Citizen of the Year Award to Ahmad Zayyad. 

Davenport said when she and other teachers were asked to nominate a student for the award, they independently and unanimously thought of Zayyad. His willingness to stand up for others, desire to include those being left out, and kindness to all made Zayyad an easy choice, Davenport said. 

For North Lenoir High School, recently retired teacher Marian Kennedy presented Anna Hull with the Young Citizen of the Year award. Kennedy spoke of the challenges Hull has overcome, including multiple surgeries at a young age to repair a cleft palate, and the achievements Hull has made, including recently being named Distinguished Young Woman of Lenoir County. 

The award for Business of the Year was presented to Billy and Margaret Britt, owners of Britt Funeral Home in La Grange, for their history of service to the community and long-time membership in the Chamber of Commerce. 

The final award of the evening was for Citizen of the Year, and that went to 92-year old Lorraine Allen. Penny Dawson presented the award, and spoke of Allen’s years of service to the area as a teacher and as a pillar of the community.