Not many people can say they have been recognized by the California State Senate, House of Representatives and by the president of the United States all by the tender age of 18. But only one person is Heather Henkel.

Henkel is originally from Stockton, Calif., where she attended St. Mary's High School.

In her junior year she began delivering toys and food to the homeless around her area.

That is when it dawned on her that the people receiving those goods had nowhere to store them.

So she took it upon herself to do more.

Henkel began researching how to get backpacks and necessities to fill them with, such as toothbrushes, shampoo and toilet paper.

Henkel sent letters to various companies explaining her venture and in return many of them donated free merchandise.

She was sent everything from soaps to coloring books. The community also began to donate for her cause.

At one point, Henkel and her mother managed to fill more than 150 backpacks and donate them to the Transitional Learning Center at St. MaryÕs Shelter.

The program is a school for homeless children.

"The den at my house was filled with backpacks," Henkel recalled. "It was up to here," she said, pointing to her chin.

Henkel was later recognized by a teacher and nominated for the Golden Rule Award, an honor for Good Samaritans in the San Joaquin Valley. Henkel won the award and then applied for the state award.

Henkel was later selected as one of the four throughout the state to receive the First Lady of California Volunteer Award. The next step is the National level.

A freshman majoring in speech communication, Henkel does not suffer from being inactive.

She is currently on the forensic team, a member of the Resident Hall Assistant Senate and a judicial board member for Building K.

She also assists Professor Robert Tucker of the speech department on the Daniel Webster Foundation, which assists students from inner-city high schools how to debate.

"I was overextended in high school," Henkel said. "I'm still overextended in college."