Payne praised as Youth Volunteer of Year

by Dennis Dalman

editor@thenewsleaders.com

For the first time, a high-school student was recognized by the Sartell Area Chamber of Commerce in one of its four award categories at the chamber’s Nov. 17 annual awards banquet.

(For other winners, see related stories.)

Logan Payne of Sartell, a high-school senior, was honored as Youth Volunteer of the Year. He was nominated by the pastor of his church, The Waters Church, for being “an amazing young man with an equally amazing young heart.”

At the banquet, Sartell Mayor Sarah Jane Nicoll presented Payne with his award.

Multi-talented and energetic, Payne has volunteered his time in a wide variety of good causes. In 2014, he earned his Eagle Scout award by cleaning and beautifying Pine Ridge Golf Course and tidying up the course’s pond-holding area. He is also extremely active in his church.

At age 12, he learned to play guitar for the church and ran the church’s sound board for the Youth Worship Team. He plays guitar for the weekend Adult Worship Team. He also represented his church most recently during a mission trip to El Salvador, from which he returned just two weeks ago.

In school, Payne is superb in the band, playing first-chair trumpet. He also volunteers to play trumpet at the Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Park in Sartell.

His Scouting peers voted him to be a member of the Order of the Arrow, which is an honor society for Scouts. He serves as treasurer of the Order. Just this past October, Payne was given the highest honor attainable in Scouting, a member of the Vigil Honor.

Payne’s achievements personify the chamber’s criteria for its new Youth Volunteer Award – someone serving as a mentor, a leader and an inspiration to others.