The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department recognized local chef Rick Martin and high school junior Di Xie on Monday evening as the 2015 Douglas County Health Champions.

Each year the department selects one person from the adult and youth communities to receive the award, said Karrey Britt, the department’s communications coordinator. Recipients are selected for their efforts in promoting health within the community, often going above and beyond what is expected of them.

Martin is a chef and owner of Limestone Pizza, 814 Massachusetts St., and has worked to educate people in Lawrence on the importance of a healthy diet, said Dan Partridge, county health department director. He has also worked with the school district to provide food demonstration for students, and he has worked with the local food bank to teach low-income families how to eat healthy on a budget.

“He’s been very active around healthy food and those who have limited access to it,” Partridge said.

Martin said he was humbled and honored to receive the award.

“I feel really proud of my position in the community, and I feel like I get a lot of opportunities to work with kids and the underserved and low-income families in so many ways,” he said. “Good food is where it’s at. That’s where the health of the community lies in so many ways.”

Xie, a junior at Free State High School, just started her fourth year as a student gardener in the Growing Food, Growing Health project, Partridge said. The project grows food in a garden at West Middle School. The food is then either served in the school’s cafeteria or sold at the Merc Co-op.

“She’s not only responsible but she’s passionate about healthy foods,” Partridge said. “And she’s a great role model.”

Both Martin and Xie will be honored April 10 during a community breakfast at the Community Health Facility, 200 Maine St. The breakfast, which is a part of the department’s celebration of National Public Health Week, will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and is open to the public.