MARYSVILLE — Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring was proud to announce Preston Dwoskin as the community’s Volunteer of the Month for December, in recognition of the student’s community involvement and advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities, including the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

“Preston is highly deserving of this recognition,” Nehring said at the Jan. 9 Marysville City Council meeting, during which Dwoskin, 20, was honored in front of family members and friends. “While Preston lives with severe hearing loss, he has not let his disability define him. He aspires to be a leader, and through his activities advocating on behalf of people with disabilities, and actions that demonstrate his passion for building a sense of community spirit, he is already displaying that leadership.”

Marysville teacher Jim Strickland nominated Dwoskin for the honor. Strickland first Dwoskin in 2006, when the young man was a student at Totem Middle School. Dwoskin was enrolled in the Marysville School District’s Life Skills Program, and graduated from the program in 2010. He is now a student in the 18-21 Transition Opportunities Program, a work-based learning program funded by the district for students aged 18-21 with developmental disabilities. The program provides practical, real world work skills by putting students in volunteer or paid jobs with partnering local businesses and agencies.

Dwoskin has assisted with various community service projects, helped coach youth baseball teams as a huge fan of the sport, and served as announcer for the YMCA’s 360 breakdancing competition. He is interested in politics and public speaking, which he has done at the podium at City Council meetings more than once, as well as in building relationships in the community to improve the lives of others, cultivating natural leaders who can go out and inspire effective partnerships between community groups on projects that benefit the community as a whole, and serving as an advocate for people with disabilities.

Dwoskin has been participating in the Arc of Snohomish County’s Leadership Training Program, which culminated in a trip to Olympia last month for Legislative Advocacy Workshops. According to Nehring, Dwoskin put his advocacy skills to the test through tasks such as preparing statements on issues important to people with disabilities.