Volunteers help build communities and for many students that experience of giving back begins with opportunities at school.
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To recognize these efforts, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent held its first of what is planned to be an annual Youth Community Recognition Awards event Thursday at the Capitol Theatre.
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A total of 49 students, nominated by principals from schools across the municipality, each received an award along with their choice of a $100 restaurant gift certificate or $150 towards a Registered Education Savings Plan, donated by event sponsor Mainstreet Credit Union.
Joseph Myers, a Grade 5 student at Good Shepherd Catholic School in Thamesville, who helps with tech services to at school assemblies and masses, as well as delivers milk to students and assists with junior and senior kindergarten classes was a natural choice.
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“His name came up first,” Joseph’s Grade 5 teacher Jason Pepper said. “He wants to help out, he’s always asking for extra jobs.
“He always wants to help out, he just thrives on that,” Pepper added.
Joseph said it feels good to be recognized.
He is looking forward to taking on a bigger role next year when he will take over all the technical duties for school assemblies and masses next year.
“I just like doing the tech work,” he said.
The only person more proud of Joseph about this recognition is his mom Danielle Myers.
“I just bawled,” she said of hearing the news.
“He’s just one of those kinds of kids who has a warm heart and he volunteers a lot,” he said.
Volunteering just seems to be part of the DNA of the Rickman family from the Florence area.
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Bailey Rickman, a Grade 11 student at Lambton Kent Composite School and her brother Trent, a Grade 8 student at Dawn-Euphemia Public School, both in Dresden, were both selected by their principals.
Bailey, 16, volunteers for various activities and events, such as doing the sound for athletic banquets, and also serves on student council.
“I like that I can make an impact in my community,” she said.
Bailey also credits adult volunteers who she has worked with in the community.
“I feel like I’m learning to be a leader because of them, so when I volunteer with them, I’m learning so much,” she said.
Trent, 13, helps set up for school assemblies and track and field events.
“I think it’s a great honor and I’m proud that I could be representing my school,” he said of receiving the honor. “It made me feel pretty good.”
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Mainstreet Credit Union president and CEO Chris Inniss, who attended the inaugural event, said when it comes to sponsoring events: “How can you beat kids volunteering, it’s pretty amazing.
“We are a community organization and so that is really important to us,” he added.
Inniss said the credit union is excited to both support the community with restaurant gift cards to be used a local restaurants as well as providing a RESP to students who choose it.
“It’s our part in helping great future leaders for their education,” he said.
Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff, a driving force behind the youth recognition program, said, “Volunteering is the foundation of our community.”
He added it is important to recognize volunteers at a young age to “encourage younger people to get involved.”
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LIST OF HONORERS
Avery Anderson, Wheatley Area Public School
Janae Atkinson, Victor Lauriston Public School
Kara Bechard, Merlin Area Public School
Ella Bowers, Gregory Drive Public School
Tamara Boyes, Wallaceburg District Secondary School
Mason Britton, St. Angela Mercii Catholic School
Lucas Bromley, Georges P. Vanier Catholic School
Mikella Caron, Pain Court Secondary School
Benjamin Childs, Christ the King Catholic School
Fisher Clark, Monsignor Uyen Catholic School
Neveah Cohmer, Tilbury Area Public School
Amy DeBrouwer, Blenheim District High School
Luke DeHaan, St. Ursula Catholic School
Lauren Depooter, WDSS 7&8
Eric DeVries, Chatham Christian School
Eva Fedele, St. Angela Mercii Catholic School
Brynlee Gallant, King George VI Public School
Jariel Garcia, John McGregor Secondary School
JJ Gebara, Chatham Christian School
Alyssa Geene, Harwich-Raleigh Public School
Mia Gooch, Ursuline College
Shelby Goodreau, St. Joseph Catholic School
Mallory Hawken, Dresden Area Central School
Henry Hill, St. Francis
Lincoln Jacobson, Tecumseh Public School
Abby Johnston, Indian Creek Rd Public School
Makayla Klassen, St. Francis
Caleb Lewsaw, John McGregor Secondary School
Spencer Marks, Tilbury District High School
Raiden Massicotte, Winston Churchill Public School
Adelina McLaughlin, Holy Family Catholic School
Alexa Murphy, AA Wright Public School
Austyn Myers, Sainte-Catherine
Joseph Myers, Good Shepherd Catholic School
Mahin Naveed, Chatham-Kent Secondary School
Wania Noor, Chatham-Kent Secondary School
Kaydence Redmond, WDSS 7&8
Bailey Rickman, Lambton Kent Composite School
Trent Rickman, Dawn-Euphemia Public School
Fiona Rutledge, Naahii Ridge Elementary School
Skylar Rutledge, Ridgetown District High School
Annie Seo, Ursuline College
Emmett St. Jean, Queen Elizabeth II Public School
Jonathon Thompson, St. Elizabeth Catholic School
Vanessa Vander Pryt, Indian Creek Rd Public School
Jane Vanheule, St. Michael Catholic School
Ellie Weening, St. Anne Catholic School
Alicia Winter, McNaughton Ave. Public School
Kelton Winter, McNaughton Ave. Public School
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