Lakeland High School junior Colton Strawser is awarded the Prudential Spirit of Community award by Prudential representative Timothy Lowtzenhizer Monday night. Though still in high school, Strawser is the executive director of the nonprofit organization PC’s for Youth, which repairs and places donated desktop computers into the homes of students who might otherwise not have a computer.

LAGRANGE — Lakeland High School junior Colton Strawser, 17, was awarded The Prudential Spirit of Community Award Monday night at the Lakeland School Corporation board meeting.

Strawser is the son of Michael and Karen Strawser of Wolcottville.

Though still in high school, Strawser is the executive director of the nonprofit “PC’s for Youth,” a local organization that provides free computers to needy students in a five county area. The group takes donated desktop computers and updates and refurbishes those machines before giving them to students who otherwise would have no computer. So far, the organization has given away more than 200 computers.

Strawser joined the organization in 2008 and was named its executive director two years later.

Strawser said he runs the organizations, does its marketing and writes grant proposals. He said he’s always been drawn to community service.

“It’s a big honor for me and all the organizations I’m involved in,” Strawser said. “It’s nice to get recognized for what you’re doing.”

Strawser is involved with the LaGrange Community Youth Centers, Teen Court and Ark Animal Rescue, to name a few.

“Most of my weeks are booked with meetings, presentations and volunteer time,” he said. “Last week I had five meetings in one day.”

Strawser is member of the National Honor Society. He plans to attend IUPUI in Indianapolis next year and major in philanthropic studies.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, represent the largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service in the United States.

All middle and high schools in the U.S., along with all Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of HandsOn Network, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award last November.

Two State Honorees, one middle and one high school student, plus a select number of Distinguished Finalists from each state and the District of Columbia were selected based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth.

Strawser said his goal has always been simple.

“I want to do something that makes a difference.”

Article taken from KPC News. By Patrick Redmond.

PC’s for Youth will be holding their annual fundraising dinner banquet on Tuesday, August 7^th, at the Shipshewana Town Center in Shipshewana, IN. PC’s For Youth is a 501(C)(3) sponsored nonprofit organization that gives free computers to students in LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, DeKalb, Elkhart, and Kosciusko Counties to use for educational purposes.

Ticket order forms for the banquet are located on the PC’s For Youth’s website www.pcsforyouth.org. The event will include a silent auction that will include vacation packages and other great items. Tickets are available at a cost of $15.00 and are available for purchase until July 31^st. Funds raised at this event will be used to help cover PC’s For Youth’s annual operating costs. The event will be catered by Blue Gate Catering.

PC’s For Youth is also asking for donations to be used for their silent auction and is also looking for businesses to sponsor the event. If you have any questions please contact Colton C. Strawser, Executive Director, at 260-220-9268 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Download a ticket order form now!