This award is given in memory of an outstanding youth volunteer named Jonathon Michael Heaton who gave over 3,000 volunteer hours to our Zoo. In 1999, Jonathon died of a heart attack from a congenital heart condition. His dedication and memory are kept alive through this award.

This year’s recipient was Rebekah L. Carson. A volunteer in the giraffe area, Rebekah started volunteering three years ago at age 13. She travels over an hour from Richmond, Ky to volunteer at the Zoo and is a tenth grader at Madison Southern High School in Berea. According to the giraffe staff, Rebekah is not only a great volunteer but a great person.