Marysville Grace Academy student Marty Yorio has been working hard all his life to do what he feels is just plain right. At seventeen years old, Marty is on the fast track to success in anything that he puts his mind to, whether it is maintaining his 4.0 GPA throughout high school, acting as the student body president, winning awards by the Math League, or organizing community service events.

Marty recently accepted a scholarship from the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Peter Puget Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) nominated the high school senior for his excellent work in four categories: service, leadership, dependability, and patriotism. On January 13, 2009, Marty was honored with the "DAR Good Citizen Certificate" for his accomplishments and his essay, which answered the question, "Why is our American heritage important and what is our responsibility for preserving it?" by focusing on historical events to shape his response. He presented his essay to the members of the DAR at a special luncheon at which he received his award.

Marty loves participating in his Student Ministries Youth Group, ONE 28, where he has been on the worship team for the past two years. The group meets twice a week to discuss their spiritual journeys and play music.

For the past couple of years, Marty and his schoolmates have been working with Seeds of Grace Ministry in Marysville to help organize a food and clothing drive for families in the community. Before Christmas, they encouraged students and faculty to bring in items to donate, and ended up filling two truckloads.

When Marty is not at school, his youth group, or helping the community, he enjoys being at home with his family and his four "brothers."

"My parents have been running an adult family home for four developmentally disabled men for 16 years. My parents have pegged me as the recreational director, but really they are like my brothers," said Marty.

After graduating from Grace Academy this June, Marty plans to attend Northwest University in Kirkland. He wants to major in Music Education and possibly teach at private Christian schools. "In the future, it would be great to come back and invest in other people's lives," he said.

What makes Marty an outstanding Student Spotlight subject is his humble personality. Marty takes all the wonderful things he has done in his life and attributes his success to those around him, never expecting much credit.

When Marty spoke about his 4.0 GPA achievement, he dedicated it to his teachers saying, "Ultimately, I am thankful for the excellent teachers and the challenging classes that helped me learn and apply lessons."

His mother, Sue Yorio, also noted that "when pastor Dan Hazen [of Allen Creek Community Church] acknowledged Marty's leadership in a write-up for a local newspaper for Seeds of Grace, Marty removed his name, and just wanted the other people acknowledged."

Displaying his trademark reverence, Marty said, "I think of myself as a humble piece of material that God can use for His glory and to show His love for others. I am not here to point out how great I am, but how great God's service is."