A South Bend teenager was honored by the lieutenant governor Thursday at Saint Mary's College for bee keeping.

Eighteen-year-old Alexandra Lesniak received the Hoosier Rising Star award for her work to educate the public about the role honey bees play in the food supply.

Lesniak works to educate people about colony collapse disorder which is the main cause of a dramatic decrease in honey bee populations.

The problem isn't just for the bees. It extends all the way up the food chain and affects our own pockets.

Honey bee pollination is responsible for producing a third of the nation's food and is worth about $15 billion.

Lesniak was truly honored her efforts were recognized.

"I was not expecting it at all, just really honored, especially because it’s from such a prestigious member of the community, being the lieutenant governor, it's a big honor,” Alexandra Lesniak said.

“You see amazing young leaders like this and then you know Indiana will be in good hands,” Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman said.

Lesniak just graduated from Washington High School and plans on attending Purdue University in the fall to study animal sciences.

She was presented the award at the Advancing Hoosier Women in Business Seminar.