RICHARD BALLINGER The Mariposa County High School faculty has selected senior Richard Ballinger as the 2010 recipient for the Bank of America plaque for applied arts.

Ballinger is the son of Nick and Jill Ballinger of Mariposa. While at MCHS, he has been a member of the four-time Southern Athletic League champion Grizzly basketball team and played junior varsity football. He played in the Grizzly marching and jazz bands and received the Louis B. Armstrong jazz award.

He is an active member of Mariposa FFA, having served as sentinel, vice president and currently as president. Ballinger is also the Merced- Mariposa FFA section treasurer. He has participated on the parliamentary procedure team, was a state convention delegate and national convention delegate. In 2009, he was selected to attend Boys’ State, and is currently the Associated Student Body president.

Academically, Ballinger is a four-year honor roll member and a life member of the California Scholarship Federation.

After graduation, Ballinger plans to attend a California State University to study agricultural communications.