Norwich — A dozen youths from the region received youth service awards Friday from Mayor Deberey Hinchey and local legislators as part of the city's celebration of National Youth Service Day and World Youth Day.

The awards were presented to nominees from local high schools and service organizations, including New London County 4-H, the Norwich NAACP Robertsine Duncan Youth Council and the Three Rivers Young Marines.

Recipients were: Brittany Andrews, 4-H teen Ambassador Program; Gabrielle Christy, Norwich Free Academy; Maria Grillo, New London County 4-H Junior Staff Program; Guercie Guerrier, NAACP Robertsine Duncan Youth Council; Lamide Ladoja, Three Rivers Middle College; Charles Liang, NFA Project Outreach; Kiera Burlingame, a lance corporal in Three Rivers Young Marines; Brittany Post, Norwich Teen Leadership Council/Norwich Youth Action League; Dakota Rivera, NFA Diversity Program; Brandon Speight, 4-H Teen Ambassador Program; Elise Sperry, 4-H Youth Empowerment Program and Robert Thornburn, Greater Norwich Anti-Bullying Coalition.