Jennifer Strain HOWELL — For many people, an engineering degree is a defining characteristic, but for Jennifer Strain it is just one of many outstanding accomplishments. It is the combination of all that she does for her community that earned her the Young American Award from the Monmouth Council of Boy Scouts.

On top of her electrical and mechanical engineering studies, Strain, a Howell native, volunteers as a Girl Scout leader in Rhode Island, where she is a senior at Roger Williams University. She also participates in a multitude of other community service activities.

The Young Americans Award is given to a college student between the ages of 19 and 25 to highlight the importance of service to the community, state and nation. Qualifications include accomplishments, service and community involvement that adds to the quality of life.

The Boy Scouts gave Strain the award on June 18 at Branches in Long Branch.

"I think Girl Scouts helped me to become more well-rounded and gave me a wide variety of skills that I am able draw on all of the time," said Strain. "Thanks to Girl Scouts, I can change a tire or knit a scarf; on the other hand, I can feel comfortable

speaking in front of a large room full of people and I have gained valuable leadership experience." Because Girl Scouts means so much to her, Strain remained active when she began college. For the past three years, her school has honored her with its community service award. "I couldn't imagine life

without Girl Scouts," said Strain "It's dedication bred out of habit, but also I love it; I would never have lasted if I didn't love the organization. I had amazing experiences with the Girl Scouts as a girl, and now as an adult member, I want to make sure those experiences can continue to happen for girls today."

In addition to her studies, Strain is dedicated to volunteering in her adopted hometown. As a junior, she planned a visit to the Forest Farm Assisted Living Community and recruited friends and roommates to go with her after practicing holiday songs. They sang and visited each resident individually, room by room.

Also as a junior, Strain again recruited friends and roommates to help make holiday cards that were sent to her Girl Scout sisters in Howell-Farmingdale, where a troop was collecting them for troops in Iraq.

A third community service project that year promoted wind energy. She volunteered 50 hours of time with the organizationWind Power Rhode Island. Most of her time was involved with research and community surveys about wind power.

During the summer of 2007, Strain volunteered at the Montclair Museum of Art and logged more than 80 hours working with the Exhibit Design Department.

As a freshman, Strain spent a day helping with the cleanup efforts on the East Bay Bike Path with fellow college students.