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Lily G.M. Earney of Polk County Early College High School has been honored by the National Alliance of Mental Illness North Carolina with its Youth Empowerment Award.

The Youth Empowerment Award is given to recognize a young person 25 years or younger with a connection to mental illness. NAMI noted that Earney, a senior at PCEC, has had a significant impact in the community through activities such as bringing youth into NAMI, involvement in campus clubs, and raising awareness and engagement in NAMI programs.

NAMI is a non-profit mental health organization created to assist people in their community by providing them with local resources. NAMI is a national organization that can assist individuals and families in times of crisis.

Through NAMI, Polk County Early College High School’s Conundrums club members have and continue to receive mental health training to assist residents of Polk County. These students received educational training on how to speak to a person in crisis, provide resources and, if appropriate, contact families or other agencies for assistance.