BRAZIL – An Indiana State University criminology major and a South Vigo High School Eagle Scout candidate have been named “Student Leaders of the Year” by the Indiana Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch.
Sheriffs, business, and labor leaders at ISYR on Thursday picked Rachel Cailteux and Christian Verst from among dozens of young leaders who have helped and participated in programming at the 62-acre nonprofit training retreat for future law enforcement officers, at-risk kids, young witnesses, and victims of crime.
“Rachel Cailteux, a junior at ISU, took leadership roles in organizing three important projects — our Arbor Day tree planting, our 4th Annual Shotgun Shoot for Firearms Safety, and the Lambda Alpha Epsilon criminology fraternity’s fall retreat,” said Vigo County Sheriff John Plasse, ISYR’s board vice president.
“Christian Verst, a senior at South Vigo High School, designed and built a large floating lifeguard station for one of the three lakes at our Youth Ranch,” Plasse said. “Hopefully, Christian’s project to safeguard our young visitors will also earn him his Eagle Scout badge from the Boy Scouts of America.”
Both Cailteux and Verstwill receive awards from the Youth Ranch board and invitations to host 12 of their relatives and friends for overnight visits to ISYR, where they will cookout, fish, swim, hike, shoot archery and ride ATVs, Plasse said.
Plasse serves as a volunteer board member of the Youth Ranch with Allen County Sheriff David Gladieux, Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers, Boone County Sheriff Mike Nielsen, Cass County Sheriff Ed Schroder, Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel, Clay County Sheriff Paul Harden, Grant County Sheriff Reggie Nevels, La Porte County Sheriff John Boyd, former Marion County Sheriff John Layton, Monroe County Sheriff Brad Swain, Putnam County Sheriff Scott Stockton, Ripley County Sheriff Jeff Cumberworth and Vermillion County Sheriff Mike Phelps. John Jones, the owner of Southern Indiana’s John Jones Auto Group, and Gary Holmes, president of United Auto Workers Local 933 in Indianapolis, represent business and labor on ISYR’s all-volunteer board.
For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, Plasse said to call 317-460-4242, email ScottMinier@yahoo.com or write to the Indiana Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch, 5325 N. State Road 59, Brazil, IN 47834.
