Sixteen high school seniors, two each from eight schools, will compete again this year for the annual Linn County Junior First Citizen awards.

The two Lebanon students are Lindsey Bellinger and Elia deJesus.

The candidates were nominated by their schools' staff. They are judged on their performance and experiences in areas such as academics, church activities, athletics and volunteerism.

A five-member panel also conducts a three-minute interview with each candidate.

Lindsey Bellinger

Lindsey Bellinger, 17, is a senior at Lebanon High School.

Her parents are David and Linda Bellinger of Lebanon.

Lindsey carried a 3.4 grade point average, is enrolled in Linn-Benton Community College this year and will be next year after graduation as well.

She competed in basketball, cross country and track throughout high school.

Lindsey has been a class senator for two years and also a student of the month. Last year she was spirit coordinator, working with the leadership class on all final decisions, and was in charge of assemblies.

She twice was voted most inspirational girl in cross country. She has been on the honor roll and received the Scholar Athlete Award in all sports. She enjoys the outdoors and traveling. Most of her hobbies include volunteering, working out and participating in family and school functions.

Last year, she was team captain of her first Relay for Life team, where she raised $200 more than her personal goal.

She wants to get an associate's degree in communication and then transfer to a university for her bachelor's and master's degrees. She is considering Franciscan University, Gonzaga, Western Oregon and Ave Maria. She is interested in business and teaching.

Elia deJesus

Elia deJesus attends Lebanon High School and is the son of Penelope deJesus.

He is 17 and has a 3.95 grade point average.

Elia is a member of National Honor Society and in the eighth grade was a senator, where he helped decorate and plan for school dances. He obtained the outstanding freshman award in band, starting with the clarinet and then the saxophone. He participates in both jazz bands and wind ensemble.

Outside of school he has volunteered at the Lord's Store House and has helped package food and take food and clothes to people's family vehicles or carts. He has helped clean up Cheadle Lake and has a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo.

Elia has participated in church plays and has helped his mother teach Sunday school. He also has helped with Vacation Bible School.

In his free time he enjoys hiking, going to the coast, drawing and reading. For as long as he can remember, he has loved learning about dinosaurs and imagining how they lived.

After graduation, he wants to get a job and then go on to a four-year university to get a bachelor's degree in mathematics and take classes in biology or paleontology.