ADDISON — Anna Willenbaker, daughter of Wendy Willenbaker and Edward Willenbaker of Addison, was one of five Vermont high school seniors to be awarded a $5,000 Scholarship of Excellence by the owners of the University Mall in Burlington recently. The college scholarship recognizes excellence in community service, leadership and academics. 
Willenbaker, who recently graduated from Vergennes Union High School, started her own backyard business, Shellhouse Chicken Eggs. In 2012 she received the Addison County Relocalization Network’s first-place Business Entrepreneur award.
She helped lead the Farm to School movement at VUHS. Farm to School brings local food directly to the school system rather than importing it from out of state.
Willenbaker also worked with Spring Hill Horse Rescue to save 20 horses that she discovered were starving and mistreated. She worked hard to find loving homes for all of them, including one that she herself adopted. Her story was presented on the local VCAM TV show “Critical Mass.”
Willenbaker will attend Saint Michael’s College in the fall.