Sawyer Herring, an incoming senior at Walker High School has been named the Louisiana winner for the National WWII Museum’s prestigious Billy Michal Award. This award is given to one student from each state for their American spirit in terms of leadership, teamwork, service, and perseverance. Sawyer serves as a junior docent at the LSU Rural Life Museum, a member of the Louisiana State 4-H Citizenship Board, an active leader of Senior Beta, and he is an avid artist and wood carving enthusiast. Throughout high school, Sawyer has served as a camp counselor and junior artisan of blacksmithing at an 1800s museum, helped create and implement a statewide adolescent mental health retreat, worked on an annual veterans appreciation art project, and volunteered at soup kitchens and homeless shelters throughout the state of Louisiana.

This article was originally published in July 2024.