ARLINGTON, Texas – Jenna Rose Harrington of Barneveld, New York, and Daniel Bolan of Orlando, Florida, have been selected as the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Youth Ambassadors of the Year.

The International Bowling Campus Youth Committee annually honors one male and one female USBC Youth bowler for their contributions to the sport, academic achievement and community involvement. Harrington and Bolan each will receive a $1,500 scholarship and may be selected to serve on the IBC Youth Committee.

Harrington is a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council and Chorus/Select Chorus at Holland Patent Central School, where she is in her senior year. She has accepted a scholarship to attend Franklin Pierce University in the fall, where she will major in psychology.

“To be selected as the female Ambassador of the Year is an incredible honor and privilege,” Harrington said. “Since I was 4 years old, bowling has been my world. I always take the opportunity to volunteer, coach, mentor and encourage everyone to bowl. The sport of bowling has helped me become a more confident, knowledgeable and successful young woman. Through example and leadership, I will continue to grow and strive to become a positive role model of a female bowler.”

Harrington is a Girls Scouts of America Bronze Award recipient, has served as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and volunteered at a nursing home. She served on the Mohawk Valley USBC Youth Association for two years as a youth representative.

She has been a member of her high school bowling team each year and has been a first-team all-star three times, including 2016 when she won the Section III girls bowling shootout. She won team, doubles and singles titles at the 2014 MVUSBC City Youth Tournament and again won team, placed second in doubles and third in singles in 2015. She placed 36th at the 2014 Junior Gold Championships.

Bolan is a junior at Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando. He started the Strike for Vets Charity Bowling Tournament in 2015 to raise funds for the Stay in Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center that helps injured veterans and others with spinal injuries. The event not only raised money, but generated awareness and introduced wounded veterans to the sport of bowling.

He received the Orange County Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award for building Mercy Garden, a memorial garden for those who have died in senseless acts of violence. It was Bolan’s Eagle Scout Project and took just over a year to plan and build, including raising more than $50,000 and recruiting 76 volunteers, who contributed 587 hours to the project.
 
“It gives me great joy to know my support and service to the bowling community has been recognized,” Bolan said. “I am more than surprised to be accepting this award, as well as very humbled and grateful.”

Bolan, who also volunteers as a coach with Seminole Special Olympics, is an accomplished bowler. He was 58th in the U15 Division at the Junior Gold Championships in 2014, won the Great Orlando Division I City Championship in 2015 and was selected to the 2014-2015 USBC Orlando Regional Boys Youth All-City Team.

Harrington and Bolan will be presented their USBC Youth Ambassador of the Year awards during the USBC Convention, set for April 26-29 in Las Vegas.

Go to BOWL.com/ScholarshipsAwards to learn more about youth scholarships and youth leader awards.