Avaanti Sridhar with Patricia Lotane
Oakton High School junior Matt Bocharnikov and Westfield High School junior Avaanti Sridhar were presented with the third annual Cliff Hardison Youth Leadership Award established in memory of the late West Potomac High School principal.
Hardison was a member of the Unified Prevention Coalition (UPC) of Fairfax County board of directors and committed to the nonprofit's mission to keep youth and young adults safe and drug free. His mother Patricia Lotane and sister Karen Hardison were on hand for the presentation made by UPC Interim Executive Director Diane Eckert.
Matt has served as the Youth Council's vice president this year, and Avaanti was the group's treasurer and will serve as vice president next year. Eckert also recognized 15 members of the Youth Council for their dedication to the vision of a community where youth grow up healthy, safe and drug free.