Meagan Williams has a heart for civic service. And, as it turns out, civic service has given back to the 16-year-old.

"I've become a better person and now know who I am," Williams said, accepting the 2004 Mayor's Award for Civic Engagement in the youth division at a ceremony Monday night. A dedicated volunteer, the Edgewood High School junior got involved early.

As a middle school student, she helped to smooth what is otherwise a sometimes difficult transition for students from elementary school to middle school.

Now through the same Youth Network of Monroe County that sponsors the transitions program, she's involved in a high school program that promotes a healthy, drug-free community. That's in addition to numerous drug-free advocacy groups, as well as leadership and discussion groups.

Williams joined three other award winners Monday night, along with numerous honorable mention and recognition award recipients who packed into City Hall's council chambers for the ceremony. The awards are part of Mayor Mark Kurzan's Safe and Civil City program.

Award recipients were selected for improving the quality of life in Bloomington and Monroe County through their participation in political and community activities. That's a glove that fits well for Richard Parkinson, the college student award winner.

A senior at Indiana University majoring in finance and accounting, Parkinson has played a pivotal role in the local Big Brothers Big Sisters strategic planning process. He's worked with the agency for three years.

In that time, Parkinson has designed spreadsheets for financial forecasting. He's developed a performance measurement process for the organization's board. And, he's conducted more than 18 staff interviews. But that's just the tip of the iceberg for Parkinson, who has devoted 15-20 hours per week the last year and a half to bettering the organization.

The bottom-line for the Kelley School of Business student: He has strengthened the nonprofit's capacity to serve more children.

According to the organization's reports, Parkinson has touched the lives of more than 1,000 children. In June of this year, the agency was honored nationally for a 36 percent increase in service to children, making it the second largest agency in the state in children served.

"Civic engagement has played a crucial role in my college experience," Parkinson said Monday night, speaking of Big Brothers Big Sisters like a proud parent.

Like Parkinson, Sue Wanzer also has looked out for the interest of children ... and adults.

The individual division award winner is a newly re-elected member of the Monroe County Community School Corp. board and president of Girl Scouts of Tulip Trace (a 12-county Girl Scout council) board.

Upon coming to Bloomington 13 years ago, Wanzer worked at Indiana University, advising student organizations and individuals, before serving as deputy city clerk. Prior to that, Wanzer directed Student Volunteer Services and worked with Disabled Student Services at Ball State University.

"Sue Wanzer believes strongly in service to others, in community engagement and in speaking out for those who can't or don't know how to speak out for themselves," read presenter Shirley St. John Monday night.

In 2003, Wanzer was designated a Franklin Initiative "Leading Light" for her work with students and her partnership with the community. Aside from being a school volunteer, she is an avid volunteer for the Monroe County Democratic Party.

"This is why I loved Bloomington," Wanzer said, scanning the crowded council chambers. "There are so many people who are so involved and so engaged."

Facilitating such involvement is at the heart of the civic engagement mission of the organization award winner, Ivy Tech State College. The school was called a "trailblazer" for its "deep and lasting commitment to the ideals - and practice - of civic engagement," according to a city narrative.

A goal of the college's recently developed strategic plan was "to embrace and promote community service that involves our students, faculty, staff and facilities." Under a related initiative, every one of the school's 115 full-time employees are involved in community service.

The school routinely opens its doors to community programs, such as the first annual O'Bannon Institute for community service last April. The one-day program dealt with problems facing local nonprofits, service learning in higher education and student political participation.

In addition to many other programs, the school-sponsored Volunteer Tax Income Tax Assistance Program generated 100 completed returns and more than $126,000 in federal refunds for local families.