KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- President George W. Bush plans to visit Bucyrus Thursday for a private fundraiser, but before he heads to the event, he plans to honor a local college student.

He's giving Ashley Knight, 25, from Lawrence, Kan., his volunteer service award.

Knight, a University of Missouri-Kansas City student, volunteers with Students Take Action and Youth-Friends.

As a student in the school of dentistry, she organizes and recruits volunteers to perform screenings and dental care at area health clinics.

She also organized Shear Madness, an annual fundraiser to send children with cancer to summer camp for free. This year, she helped raise $11,000 by students and faculty taking bids to shave their heads.

Asked how she juggled or volunteer efforts and school, Knight said, "It's pretty hectic in school, but I think school in general has helped me with time management, and for the time I have when I'm not at school or doing lab work, I just find it rewarding to go out in the community and help whose less fortunate. If I can do anything to improve the quality of life or just hang out with somebody who doesn't have anyone, then I'm happy to do it."

As for what she'll say to the president when she accepts her award, Knight said she plans to "wing it."

She also said nearly missed her chance to meet the president because when the White House called her to interview her a few weeks ago, she thought it must be a joke and nearly hung up.