Teen Programs

Teen Art Contest

Students in grades 6-12 were invited to create a piece of art that was inspired by their favorite book or a recent read.

“We were captivated by the talent of these young artists and pleased to see the variety and range of their reading,” said contest judges Pam Sachant, Victoria Waite, and Sarah Walters.

Thanks to the Friends of the Library, cash prizes were awarded to the winners! The following participants also had their artwork displayed as a special exhibit in the Library’s meeting room.

High School

1st place: Violet Wahrer, Age 17 – “Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tzu Pg. 35 Chih To Hsiang”
2nd place: Marygrace “Gray” Beinke, Age 16 – “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
3rd place: Dhwani Nathan, Age 14 – “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”
Honorable Mention: Shreya Poladia, Age 15 – “Metamorphosis”

Middle School

1st place: Kalina Dobreva, Age 13 – “Cover of ‘Fever 1793’ Rendition”
2nd place: Aubrey Fairbanks Ruiz, Age 12 – “Poe”
3rd place: Avery Hua, Age 13 – “Napoleon”
Honorable Mention: David Corbitt, Age 13 – “Darkstalker”
Honorable Mention: Hannah Cohn, Age 13 – “The Pearl and Coral”
Honorable Mention:  Lily Smith, Age 13 – “Mary Poppins”
Honorable Mention: Ashley Wooledge, Age 11 – “Bella”
Honorable Mention: Emmalyn Vazquez, Age 14 – “The Forgotten Girl”
Honorable Mention:  Emmalynn “Emmie” Dudley, Age 12 – “Bing Bong Trip”
Honorable Mention: Diana Shimanskaia, Age 13 – “Away in the Rain Forest”

Volunteer

Students age 13 and older commit to weekly two or three hour shifts. Teens work directly with patrons and staff by shelving, organizing, assisting with duties at the circulation desk, and working on special projects. Volunteers should have a mature attitude and be responsible, dependable, and able to work independently. The volunteer program offers students a fun way to complete community service hours and the opportunity to be awarded a scholarship their senior year. If you have any questions, please visit the library or contact Teen Volunteer Coordinator Beth Yoder at [email protected] or (512) 263-2885.

There are 3 volunteer sessions each year.

Fall Session – August 7 through December 30, 2023. Applications for the fall session are now closed.

Spring Session – January 2 through May 25, 2024. Applications for the spring session are now closed.

Summer Session – May 27 through August 10, 2024. Applications for the summer session will be available in April, 2024.

Teen Volunteer Job Description | Teen Volunteer Guidelines | Teen Volunteer Application

2023 Teen Scholarship Winners

Volunteers Spring Berryhill and Ridley Dent

Two high school seniors from the Lake Travis area will attend college in the fall with the help of scholarships from the Friends of the Lake Travis Community Library.

“This year’s winners have a bright future ahead of them,” Teen Volunteer Coordinator Beth Yoder said. “We are thrilled that the Friends of the Library are able to help Spring Berryhill and Ridley Dent further their education.”

In the fall, Berryhill will attend nursing school at the University of Arkansas, where she plans to become a labor and delivery nurse. Then she plans to get a master’s degree to become a Nurse Practitioner and hopes to be certified as a midwife. Berryhill plays the viola in the school orchestra and is an artist whose work has advanced to state in the VASE competition.

Dent will attend the University of Texas for Sustainability Studies with a minor in Human Rights and Social Justice. After college her goal is to use her degree to educate and advocate for environmental, social, political, and economic justice. She first realized her calling while volunteering at a food forest in Austin. Dent is also an award-winning artist whose work received first place in the library’s 2022 Teen Read Week Art Contest.

Since 2007, the Friends of the Lake Travis Community Library have awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to teen volunteers. Congratulations and best wishes to these exceptional graduates!