RICHMOND, VA – (Saturday, July 21, 2012) – The Richmond Kickers and the Spence family were pleased to honor Ashley Riefner with the 2012 Avery Spence Youth Community Service Award during the Kickers pro game versus the Dayton Dutch Lions Saturday night.  Established to honor Kickers youth player, Avery Spence, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident on May 1, 2011, the Avery Spence Youth Community Service Award was presented to Riefner based on criteria including volunteer involvement, commitment, leadership and athletic and academic achievements.

A dedicated volunteer since the age of 13, Riefner worked tirelessly alongside her friend and former teammate Avery Spence, donating countless hours to such organizations as Police Athletic League, Boys and Girls Club, Meals on Wheels, caroling to senior citizens and Salvation Army Angel Tree.  In addition, she has participated in over 50 youth soccer clinics to teach younger children not only how to play soccer, but more importantly valuable life skills. 

Recently completing her club soccer career with the Richmond Kickers U18 Girls Elite team, she has been a member of the Kickers since U13 and traveled to Germany and Russia with the Virginia State and Regional ODP teams.

As the Atlee High School co-captain, Riefner, was named AAA Virginia State Player of the Year, leading her high school team with 35 assists, she tallied 20 goals en route to a 19-1 record this season.  The All-Metro and Central Region Player of the Year, Riefner was a two-time Capital District Player of the Year, two-time First Team All-Central Region and First Team AAA All-State in 2011 and was selected to play in the VHSCA All-Star game in July 2012. 

Riefner is a Hanover Scholar, and is a member of BETA Club, National Honor Society, Key Club and Honor Council while maintaining a minimum 4.0 grade point average all four years of high school.  Actively involved with SODA (Student Organization for the Development of Attitudes), she taught fourth grade students the importance of having a drug and alcohol free life as well as with the Atlee High School peers program, working as a mentor to new and current students.  She will attend the University of Richmond this fall.