AUGUSTA — The Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) has named Al Feather of Belgrade and Ryan Holmes of Topsham as the recipients of the MPA’s Service to Maine Youth Award.

This award, which is given annually, recognizes individual adults who have made an outstanding contribution to the youth of Maine through education and/or the general welfare of Maine youth.

As the 2012 Service to Maine Youth awardees, Feather and Holmes will be honored at the MPA’s Spring Conference awards banquet on April 26.

For the past several years Holmes, a professional educator and school community volunteer at Mt. Ararat High School, has made a difference by dedicating countless hours in service to the youth of Topsham and surrounding communities.

Concerned about the wellness of students suffering from obesity and related health issues, he developed a wellness program aimed at this population. Students join him at 6 a.m. every morning to participate in individually designed exercise programs and share communally in a healthy breakfast.

As a result, the students lose weight, are more physically fit, and improve their grades. He continued the program through the summer by enlisting the support our area businesses.

Holmes gives a great deal of his own time to work with these students to continue their physical fitness regime, learn healthy cooking techniques, and develop a lifestyle conducive to healthy living.