A Lake County high school senior was recognized as a young health activist for her work in two youth programs at the Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center.

Dalia Anguiano, 17, of Zion is the 2012 recipient of the Young Health Activist Award from the Health and Medicine Policy Research Group, a 30-year-old, non-profit research and advocacy group focused on public health in Illinois. This statewide award and a $150 cash prize were presented to her during a ceremony on October 11 in Chicago.

Dalia is in her fourth year of volunteering for the REALITY Illinois program through the Health Department's Tobacco Free Lake County program. She is currently a senior at Zion-Benton Township High School. She was nominated for the award by two community health specialists from the Tobacco Free Lake County program. She has also been active in the Healthy YOUth drug prevention program for students at her school.

Dalia said she was surprised and honored to be chosen for the award. She plans to pursue a double major in college, focusing on public health and speech pathology.