Pflugerville City Council Member Rudy Metayer has been distinguished as an outstanding alumnus of the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, receiving the 2019 Rising Leader Award. The award is given to individuals who have helped to improve "the quality of public service in the United States and abroad at all levels of government and civic engagement," according to an Aug. 19 news release.

Metayer earned his bachelor's degree at The University of Texas College of Liberal Arts, an Executive Master in Public Leadership at the LBJ School and a law degree from The University of Texas School of Law. Metayer was elected to Pflugerville City Council in November 2017.

Metayer's public work includes working with at-risk children, forging stronger relationships with local law enforcement with regards to community policing and offering pro bono legal services for American veterans, according to his City Council biography.

Metayer has been named the Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year by the Austin Bar Association and a fellow to the Texas Bar Foundation, per the release.

"I'm humbled and honored to receive this prestigious award from my alma mater," Metayer said in the release. "The skillset, knowledge and support provided by the LBJ School professors and staff have blessed me with the tools to serve the citizens of Pflugerville and the State Bar of Texas. At time in our country's history when government is viewed by many with skepticism and faith diminished, the LBJ School is a beacon and reminder of the power of people working together for a common cause to benefit not certain parts of society, but all people.