Shady Side Academy senior Zac Coughlin was honored by Trib Total Media with a 2017 Outstanding Young Citizen Award at a banquet on April 19. Coughlin received a gold medal as one of the top 10 students recognized out of the 100 students selected from 97 high schools.

Coughlin is the co-director of the Fox Chapel Farmers Market at SSA, operates his own business, Zac's Sweet Shop, and works as a freelance photographer and for a New York City-based public relations firm. He is also a member of the SSA boys' swimming team and has won six WPIAL medals and qualified for PIAAs three times.

The Outstanding Young Citizen program is an annual awards program that has recognized the achievements of students in Western Pennsylvania for more than 15 years. Family, friends, teachers or school officials nominate high school juniors and seniors based on their exemplary character, academic achievements, leadership and community service. One hundred students are selected as Outstanding Young Citizens in each of four regions, while the top 10 students in each region earn Gold Medal awards and one student in each region wins a $5,000 scholarship.

Read the Trib article on the 2017 Outstanding Young Citizen awards.