2023 Gold Leaf Award Recipients

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Youth Award - Eliana Henery

Eliana Henery is a Lebanon High School junior and daughter of Sarah and Jason Stewart and Corey Henery. Eliana was nominated for the Gold Leaf Award because of her volunteer efforts in Lebanon and across the state.

In Lebanon, Henery volunteers at the Fostering Hope Closet and works to help support the local foster care community. For the past several years she has volunteered by sorting donations at the facility and by working at respite events, caring for infants and toddlers.

Henery also serves with the youth at Hillcrest Baptist Church and in the local faith community, she has given presentations at Upward Basketball, and has been a speaker at Lebanon’s Fields of Faith.

Henery has helped raise funds for Ukraine and has helped to foster understanding across cultures through her service with the LHS International Club.

Outside of Lebanon, Henery serves as a volunteer at the USO at Fort Leonard Wood and a is a state leader in the Missouri State Society for Children of the American Revolution. She was recently elected to serve the Missouri State Society as president and her president’s project will be raising funds for Wagons for Warriors.

Besides her volunteer work, Henery is a member of several clubs and organizations including the LHS Color Guard, National Honor Society, Laclede County Civil Air Patrol, Wreaths Across America, and Rotary Interact.

In 2022, she was selected to attend the Missouri Rotary Youth Leadership Academy.

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Adult Award - Eric Adams

Eric Adams is a Lebanon High School art teacher, an accomplished photographer and photojournalist. He works tirelessly to document and promote student activities and accomplishments. Eric has worked with students to create murals in Downtown Lebanon and assisted students in producing a documentary celebrating Lebanon’s 150th year in public education.

He donates countless unpaid hours to the youth of Lebanon through 4H instruction, church youth groups, Scouts and through sponsorship of the Art Club at Lebanon High School. 

Eric is described as patient, compassionate and forever projecting a positive attitude, even through adversity.  Many of Eric’s most devoted students come from the at-risk demographic and the kids know he accepts them unconditionally.