Recent Middlesboro High School graduate Olivia Johnson received a special recognition at last week’s Middlesboro City Council meeting. Mayor Boone Bowling presented Johnson a medal in honor of her being named the Appalachian Student of the Year by SOAR (Shaping our Appalachian Region).

SOAR was started by Congressman Hal Rogers and operates in the 54 counties of eastern Kentucky. Olivia was nominated for the award for her work on the Safe Haven Baby Box that will be going in at the Middlesboro ARH Hospital. She raised $22,000 over 13 months to make that project happen.

Johnson was chosen over all of the high school and college students from the SOAR region that were nominated for the award.

“Olivia, we are very proud of you and we thank you for representing your home town,” Bowling said in presenting the medal to Johnson.