Amazing Student Volunteers 2011

Congratulations

Caitlin Rigsby

$1,000 scholarship winner

Caitlin brought the Reynoldsburgcommunity together to spreadthe word about breast cancer.

$500 scholarshipsGlen Gainer has logged

more than 500 volunteer hours at the

Westerville library.

Holly Klepek raisesmoney for the battle

against juvenilediabetes.

Visit ThisWeekNews.com/Volunteers to read about student volunteers all year!

A special publication of

Thursday, May 19, and Sunday, May 22, 2011

2 May 19, 2011 | Amazing Student Volunteers www.ThisWeekNEWS.com

Proud to support AmazingStudents in our hometown

Call today for our central Ohio Specials!

(614) 875-7500

StanleySteemer.com

• Carpet• Natural Stone• Tile & Grout

• Hardwood• Furniture• Air Duct

• Area Rug• 24hr Emergency Water

Damage Restoration

With one call to Stanley Steemer, you can keep thefloor you walk on and the air you breathe cleaner.

FULL SERVICE CLEANING

Amazing students

Volunteering: good for kids,greater for central Ohio

Across the nation, kids are hungry foropportunities to transform their communi-ties. Whether through their schools,church group, sports team or other activi-ty, students are an integral part of chang-ing their communities for the better.

HandsOn Central Ohio is a key compo-nent to engaging and energizing this cul-tural movement of students who are sowilling to give.

At HandsOn Central Ohio, we believethat kids are empowered by their contribu-tion to the world around them and thatservice is a natural way for young peopleto assert their positive qualities.

By serving others, kids develop compas-sion and establish connections with peopleof diverse cultures and economic situa-tions. Volunteering helps kids developpositive self-esteem and learn valuable lifelessons.

Youth volunteering:• Promotes a healthy lifestyle and

positive choices: Kids who volunteer areless likely to become involved in at-riskbehaviors.

• Enhances emotional development:Volunteering heightens psychological,social and intellectual development andgrowth.

• Teaches life skills: Volunteering stim-ulates skills needed for a productive adult-hood, including responsibility for tasks.Kids learn punctuality, cooperation, toler-ance, problem solving and teamwork.

• Improves the community: Kids havethe opportunity to be resources and con-tributors to their communities.

• Encourages a lifelong service ethic:Kids who volunteer early learn the impor-tance of service and have a higher chanceof continuing to volunteer later in life.

At HandsOn Central Ohio, we provide ahost of ways youth can become involved inthe community. Check out some of theseresources to find opportunities to volunteerwith your kids in the community:

• HandsOn Central Ohio project cal-

endar: Visit the Hand-sOn Central Ohio proj-ect calendar atwww.HandsOnCen-tralOhio.org by clickingthe Volunteer Nowbutton on the home-page to search by dateand register to volun-teer for a project on-line. The monthly proj-

ect calendar offers a convenient, accessi-ble way to search a diverse set of projectsthat fit any student’s interest, skills andschedule so that the student can becomeengaged in their community.

• generationOn: Go togenerationOn.org for project ideas forkids, teens and parents and service-learn-ing curricula for teachers. generationOn isthe newly created youth-services divisionof Points of Light Institute, an organiza-tion that inspires, equips and mobilizespeople to take action that changes theworld.

You also could find some great projectsto do with your children by visitingwww.FamilyCares.org, or you could par-ticipate as a family on Family VolunteerDay.

Whether it’s transforming a playgroundinto a play space for children, demonstrat-ing science experiments at COSI or help-ing with the animals at the Columbus Zoo& Aquarium, kids have plenty of waysand tools needed to get hands-on experi-ence in the central Ohio community. Manynonprofit organizations offer volunteerprograms specifically designed for youth.

Get out, volunteer and make a differ-ence. You’ll be glad you did.

Marilee Chinnici-Zuercher is CEO andpresident of HandsOn Central Ohio.HandsOn Central Ohio’s mission is toinspire, equip and mobilize people to cre-ate meaningful change in their lives and intheir community.

MARILEECHINNICI-ZUERCHER

www.ThisWeekNEWS.com May 19, 2011 | Amazing Student Volunteers 3

$1,000 grand-prize winner

Rigsby’s perseverance brought community togetherBy DAVID S. OWENThisWeek Community Newspapers

Reynoldsburg High School seniorCaitlin Rigsby has won the $1,000grand prize in the Amazing StudentVolunteers scholarship contest pre-sented by ThisWeek CommunityMedia and Columbus State Commu-nity College.

The scholarship was designed toshowcase volunteer efforts of youthin central Ohio and recognize theextraordinary volunteer efforts ofchildren throughout the region, ac-cording to ThisWeek general managerStephen Zonars.

“So often in meetings with com-munity leaders and business people,someone will mention a student whohas done something out of the ordi-nary in our community,” Zonars said.

“I mentioned that fact to theThisWeek staff, and they thought weshould do something special to rec-ognize these young men andwomen,” he said.

Rigsby, daughter of Steve andPaula Rigsby, is president of theNational Honor Society at the highschool and said she began last sum-mer, thinking of ideas for volunteerprojects.

“I thought, ‘How can I get moreclubs involved instead of just theNational Honor Society?’And that’swhen I came up with Raiders GoPink for breast-cancer research,”Rigsby said. “This is the first one I’ve

done for like a research cause, whereyou actually raise tons of money, getsponsors in the community and get alot of backup for the project.”

Rigsby said she soon had begunreceiving commitments from the highschool’s Leo Club, DECA and skiclub to launch the Raiders Go Pinkcampaign.

After receiving several sponsor-ships from the community, Rigsbysaid, students raised enough moneyto purchase “Raiders Go Pink” T-shirts to be sold at the school and tothe community for $7 each.

Students raised about $6,500,which was donated to the StefanieSpielman Fund for breast cancerresearch.

Although she began the RaidersGo Pink project herself, Rigsby said,senior Evan Holliman, president ofthe Leo Club, came on board earlyand helped her get it going.

Giving back, getting involved andspreading the effort across the com-munity was her goal, she said.

“I felt like this was my chance toget involved in a different way, whereI got more than just club membersinvolved or football playersinvolved,” she said. “I mean we goteveryone on the bandwagon. It was

very humbling, and it was fun, but itwas a lot of hard work, though. I wasstressed.”

Although she is excited to graduateand move on to college, she said, herexperience in Reynoldsburg schools

was a good one. After graduation in June, she plans

to attend Ohio State University in thefall and major in biology. Afterward,she plans to attend medical school.

“I want to work in a pediatric ERbecause I’ve had the chance to volun-teer at Nationwide Children’s Hospi-tal last summer, and it was fun,”Rigsby said.

She said she was diagnosed withceliac, a digestive condition triggeredby consumption of the gluten protein,during her sophomore year.

“So I’ve seen a lot of doctors, andI’ve been in the hot seat, so I feel likeI can give an empathetic hand andkind of realize where people arecoming from and have that insight,”Rigsby said. “And I also think that’swhere volunteering came in becauseit’s a positive outlet where I couldbegin to do it on my own time, and ifI got sick, I didn’t have a sports com-mitment.”

Rigsby said she likes the outdoors. “I enjoy being outside, and I’ve

grown up in the neighborhood withtons of friends, and we’ve alwaysbeen outside ever since we werelittle, riding our bikes and takingwalks,” Rigsby said.

She said she plans to continue tovolunteer as much as she can whilefocusing on science and math re-search in schools.

[email protected]

Caitlin Rigsby

By Tim Revell/ThisWeek

The Reynoldsburg student section was decked in pink for the Raiders’ game against Pickerington High SchoolCentral in late October. The donations and proceeds benefited breast-cancer research.

Nomination excerptI learned an undertaking so large requires the

help of many, so one needs to put perfectionismaside and trust others to do their job. Our highschool could not have accomplished this task with-out all the people of Reynoldsburg’s help. Studentsgot together and sent thank-you letters out to all theReynoldsburg small businesses and sponsors thatgot us started. Raiders Go Pink has instilled a last-ing sense of pride within the Reynoldsburg com-munity. Most importantly we raised awareness,

volunteerism within the high school, as well asover $6,200.00 in about six weeks for cancer re-search. To this day, when I see someone wearing aRaiders Go Pink T-shirt, I smile knowing what weaccomplished. I know when I truly began to givemy time without expecting anything in return, mylife changed.

Caitlin RigsbySenior, Reynoldsburg High School

ThisWeekNEWS.com: The award-winning website of an award-winning newspaper


$500 runner-up

Gainer worked hundreds of hours at Westerville libraryBy JENNIFER NESBITTThisWeek Community Newspapers

Glen Gainer has volunteeredhundreds of hours to the West-erville Public Library, mainlyhelping to carry out children’sprograms.

“We tried to add up his life-time hours, and we got up to 500,which is way more than anyoneelse,” teen librarian BeckyO’Neil said.

Though he’s only 16, Gainerhas been volunteering at the li-brary since 2005.

The Westerville North HighSchool junior has been selectedas a runner-up in the AmazingStudent Volunteers contest, spon-sored by ThisWeek CommunityMedia and Columbus StateCommunity College.

As one of two runners-up,Gainer will receive a $500 schol-arship.

“I used to attend the programs(at the library), so I kind of newall that was going on. I had fundoing it, and I wanted to pass onthe experience,” Gainer said of

his decision to start volunteer-ing with the library.

Gainer began as a volunteerto help register children for thelibrary’s summer reading pro-gram. When the sign-up processwent online for the program,O’Neil said, Gainer, who hopesto get a degree in computer sci-ence, was instrumental in mak-ing the transition work.

Gainer serves as a volunteerfor a variety of children’s pro-

grams at the library and has beennamed a lead volunteer, help-ing to mentor new volunteersand making volunteer sched-ules.

O’Neil said that in additionto having a lot of knowledge toshare with the children whocome to the library for programs,Gainer also is great with the chil-dren.

“He’s kind of a naturalteacher,” O’Neil said. “He’s good

with the kids and helping themfind their own way.”

Gainer said he enjoys what hedoes at the library. He said hegets to work with many of hisfriends and that he he’s learneda variety of interesting skills,such as making balloon animals.

“It’s a fun place to be,” he said.Gainer said he has become a

familiar face for many of the vis-itors at the library.

“The question I get a lot is:‘Do you have a job (at the li-brary) yet?’” he said.

Gainer seems humble abouthis work at the library, but O’Neilsaid volunteers like him makethe many programs the libraryoffers possible.

“(Volunteers) are indispensi-ble,” she said. “In the summer,we literally couldn’t have some-thing as big as the summer read-ing program without the volun-teers. (Glen) is really exceptional,and I’m really glad he’s gettingthis recognition.”

[email protected]

$500 runner-up

Friend’s diabetes led Klepek to step upBy CANDY BROOKSThisWeek Community Newspapers

When Holly Klepek was 12, her best friend,Megan, was diagnosed with type 1 juvenilediabetes.

Watching Megan get shots and as many as20 finger-sticks a day just to stay alive, Hollyrealized how fortunate she was to be healthyand that she wanted to help.

She decided the best way to do that was toraise money for diabetes research, so she joineda walk team named Megan’s Miracle Work-ers. To date, the team has raised $97,000 forthe Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation(JDRF).

Members walk each fall in the JDRF Walkto Cure Diabetes and hold a variety of eventsthroughout the year.

A dodgeball tournament is next on thefundraising schedule.

“I really hope we reach our goal of$100,000,” Klepek said.

For her work raising money for diabetes re-

search and for the many other volunteer ef-forts that have come to define her life, Hollyhas been named a runner-up in the AmazingStudent Volunteers scholarship contest, spon-sored by ThisWeek Community Media andColumbus State Community College.

Holly found raising money for the JDRF sofulfilling that she expanded her efforts to helpothers. Last year, she completed more than300 hours of community service, earning thePresident’s Gold Volunteer Service Award.

Two years ago, she founded a group calledHolly’s Helpers, which raised money for theCapital Area Humane Society and helped withclothing and food drives for the communitykitchen at St. John’s Episcopal Church.

She also served as a team captain for RelayFor Life, raising money for cancer research.

At Worthington Kilbourne High School,where she is a senior, she has assisted in sev-eral student council-run campaigns to col-lect food, gifts for children at Christmas and

By Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek

Westerville 16-year-old Glen Gainer has logged more than 500hours of volunteer time at the Westerville Public Library.

By Chris Parker/ThisWeek

Worthington resident Holly Klepek,18, helped raise money for the battleagainst juvenile diabetes.

Nomination excerpt

Raising funds — and the barShe began (volunteer) work when her best friend,

Megan, was diagnosed with type 1 juvenile diabetes atthe age of 12. As Holly watched her friend learn to livewith that disease, … she desperately wanted to help her.… The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation holds afundraiser each year at the Ohio State University, calledthe JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes. Holly joined thatorganization and formed a walk team named Megan’sMiracle Workers. Throughout the year, her team holds avariety of fundraisers for this event. Oct. 3, 2010, wasHolly’s sixth year to walk and raise money to find bet-ter treatments and possibly even a cure for this disease.… To date, her team has raised over $100,000 andcoming up yet this spring, the high school has given herpermission to hold a dodgeball tournament to raisemore money for the JDRF. …

Nominated by Ralph KingActivities directorWorthington Kilbourne High School

Nomination excerpt

More than a library helperThe number of volunteer hours that Glen has logged

over five consecutive summer reading programs —600-plus hours — far exceeds those of other teen vol-unteers according to Ms. (Becky) O’Neil (teen librari-an). With over 3,000 children and teens registering forthe summer reading program every summer, Glen haspotentially encouraged the summer reading of 15,000local students. Glen’s patience and knack for teachingmake him a natural mentor to new or struggling volun-teers, and his consistent volunteerism and championingof the cause have served to intrigue and recruit otherteens to become library volunteers. …

During one busy children’s program, Science Attack,a librarian cut her hand badly enough to go to UrgentCare. Glen was essential in keeping the program flow-ing, the kids attentive, and the atmosphere calm. After-wards, he cleaned up all the supplies and put away thefurniture without being asked.

Kevin and Yan Yan Gainer,Glen Gainer’s parentsWesterville

See KLEPEK, page 7


Honorable Mentions

In partnership with

The following is a compilation ofnomination excerpts from otherAmazing Student Volunteers entries.These students are the “honorablemention” winners and will receivefamily passes to COSI:

SKYLA ANDYMarysville 12-year-old

Skyla has volunteered her serv-ices and time on many occasions.One Thanksgiving, Skyla volun-teered with our church to delivermeals to needy families in UnionCounty. …

One summer, Skyla wentthrough her personal belongingsto find some items that she couldsell at a yard sale to raise moneyfor a family in crisis. She careful-ly chose things that she loved,hoping that someone else wouldlove them as well. They did, andwe raised $350.

For the past couple of years,Skyla has had a job dog sitting ayellow lab named Sadie. Sadie’sfamily recently had a medicalcrisis and needed to go to Michi-gan for several days to seek spe-cialty medical services.

The family needed someone totake care of Sadie, but because ofthe unplanned, extra medical andtravel expenses, the family suf-fered a financial crisis, as well.Skyla volunteered to watch Sadieat no charge.

She has watched Sadie now onthree separate occasions, for sev-eral days at a time, without pay, ather request.

Skyla loves animals and is cur-rently volunteering at the UnionCounty Animal Shelter. EverySunday, Skyla and I go to theshelter, knowing that we are goingto do some dirty work. We dolaundry, separate newspapers,feed and water the dogs and cleanout stinky, messy cages. Skylawill do whatever needs to be done

without hesitation, no matter whatit is.

Nominated by Jacqueline Andy,Skyla’s mother

• • •GRAHAM BOWLING

Delaware 18-year-old

I am an active volunteer andmember of the STAND UP Lead-ership Team, a program of theDelaware General Health Districtand HelpLine of Delaware &Morrow Counties. STAND UPsupports and encourages teens toabstain from alcohol, tobacco andother drugs and promotes positivemental health, healthy relation-ships and violence-free lifestyles.

Through STAND UP, I haveparticipated in many activities tobetter my community, but perhapsthe most impactful change I havemade is the adoption of a 100-percent tobacco-free-campus(TFC) policy for the DelawareCity School District. In January2010, I began my quest by form-ing a committee of fellowSTAND UP members to advocatefor the policy and led the group inbrainstorming an action plan. …

In the following months, I con-ducted a random survey of over500 high school students andlearned that 70 percent of the highschool students fully supported a100-percent TFC policy. In June2010, I presented the informationfrom the survey and various factsabout the harmful effects of youthtobacco use to the DelawareBoard of Education. … After mysecond testimony, the boardadopted the policy immediately(effective August 2010), protect-ing the 5,100-plus students, 520-plus staff and countless visitors tothe district. …

I did not stop there: I decided toadvocate for a statewide 100-percent TFC policy. I spoke twice

to the Ohio State Board of Educa-tion and superintendent of publicschools, and upon my first presen-tation, the board assigned theissue to their capacity committeefor further consideration. I thencalled my Congressman to givehim an update on my progress.

Self-nominatedby Graham Bowling

• • •JADEN (LIBBY) ERWIN

Reynoldsburg 9-year-old

Libby brought joy to the heartsof pediatric patients with heartdefects by volunteering to painttheir faces at Children’s Hospital.She visits the Ronald McDonaldHouse and bakes cookies anddecorates cards for family mem-bers who have a child in the hos-pital. This past winter, Libbymade homemade blankets anddonated them to less fortunatechildren in local foster care. …Come spring, Libby has decidedto plant and harvest an over-sizedgarden, where she plans to donateall the fresh fruits and vegetablesto our local food pantry. …

Libby also loves animals of allkinds. … In addition to loving,feeding, watering and cleaningher own animals, Libby spendstime at the local animal shelter,where she donates food and sup-plies and visits wounded animals.Even the associates at our localpet store know Libby as she visitsregularly, asking to hold and playwith the animals no one asks forso they, too, will get love, affec-tion and exercise.

Last weekend, Libby volun-teered her time to packaging carepackages for military troops over-seas. She made candy bags forU.S. soldiers and attached ahomemade thank-you card to eachand every one of them.

Nominated by Jennifer ErwinLibby’s mother

• • •HUNTER FREYAshley 13-year-old

Five years ago, after receivingan email from a family friendregarding his trip to the CentralAfrican Republic and deliveringgifts to only sponsored orphans,

Hunter’s heart was broken andHunter’s Hope was begun.

Starting out by seeking dona-tions of gently used Beanie Ba-bies, Hot Wheels and Smartiescandy, his efforts first providedfor orphans in Bangui, CentralAfrican Republic. In 2008, Hunterloaded up 15 trunks of gifts andwent to Bangui, C.A.R., workingwith over 500 orphans. SinceHunter was not able to bring abrother or sister home throughadoption, he sponsors two broth-ers and one sister who live inBangui and also raised the fundsneeded to provide lifesaving heartsurgery for the oldest brother.

Through partnerships withmissionaries, … the gifts havereached C.A.R., Uganda, SierraLeone, Trinidad, Philippines,Russia, El Salvador and Ecuador,to name a few. Hunter’s latestpartnership is with the U.S. Army:Operation Enduring Freedom,providing the gifts for the soldiersto give to the needy children ofAfghanistan.

In 2010, Hunter became awarethat there were homeless andneedy children right in his owncommunity. So Hunter addedGrace Clinic, Family Promise ofDelaware County and CommonGround Free Store to his ministryoutreach. Hunter provided giftsfor the children through both ofthese organizations and in No-vember held a Christmas for Or-phans and Needy Childrenfundraiser and split those fundsbetween Integrated CommunityDevelopment International, Fami-ly Promise and Common Ground.He tries to hold two or threefundraisers per year to educateand raise funds for meeting thechildren’s’ needs. Hunter also hasprovided food to those he findsout have none.

Continued on next page

Nine-year-old Jaden (Libby) Erwin of Reynoldsburg cheered up pediatric pa-tients with heart defects by volunteering to paint their faces at Children’sHospital.


Honorable Mentions

In partnership with

Nominated by Robin FreyHunter’s mother

• • •ERIC McCORKLEDublin 15-year-old

Our son, Eric, was exposed toHabitat for Humanity through hisolder brother’s house volunteer-ing. Eric is not old enough towork on a Habitat house butfound a few ways to help raisemoney for Habitat until he canwork at a build site when he is 16.

In 2010 he co-founded a bowl-ing fundraising event called“Spare a House for Habitat.”Through inviting middle schoolstudents to bowl, asking commu-nity businessmen to provide dona-tions for door prizes and for T-shirts in exchange for businessadvertising, he and his friendwere able to raise over $900 forHabitat. He felt it was a greatexperience. They repeated andexpanded the event in 2011 andraised over $1,250. In support ofthis event, Habitat for HumanityGreater Columbus CEO E. J.Thomas attended with his father,who is a former professionalbowler. Eric and his friend werevery proud to present the check toHabitat for their efforts. They areplanning to repeat the event in2012.

Through his school, Eric hasalso participated in Shack City, aHabitat-sponsored event, wherestudents sleep outside overnightin cardboard box houses theymake to raise money and experi-ence firsthand what it is like to behomeless. He most recently host-ed a Sign-a-Stud fundraiser at alocal hardware store, where dona-tions were accepted in exchangefor leaving a signed message on awooden 2x4 stud that will be built

into a future Habitat house. Eric iscurrently assisting on raisingawareness for Habitat by collect-ing donations for an upcomingchurch-sponsored golf outing tobenefit Habitat for Humanity.

Nominated by Lisa McCorkle,Eric’s mother

• • •MADI RYAN

Westerville 13-year-old

Madi … received a flyer oneafternoon about a charity drive tocollect gently used jeans forhomeless teenagers (Jeans forTeens, sponsored by Aeropostale).She took it upon herself to beginher own collection in the commu-nity. She designed and printedflyers and spent hours deliveringthem house to house. She alsoposted them in local businessesand churches. She had no ideahow big her personal jeans drivewould become. Within twoweeks, Madi has single-handedlycollected over 270 pairs of jeansto donate to homeless shelters inthe Columbus area.

When she first announced she

was going to be collecting jeansfor the charity drive, I asked herwhat prompted her to do so. Ithought perhaps it was some kindof contest. Her answer astoundedme. She said, “I just wanted to dosomething to help kids whoseparents can’t give them all thethings my parents give me.” Therewas no reward or incentive. Shejust truly wanted to do somethingto help others. The spark of herkindness ignited a fire in thosearound her, and the jeans beganpiling up. Every day there weremore bags of jeans to pick upfrom the church or local business-es where Madi has posted flyers.Madi’s enthusiasm inspired othersto open their hearts and their clos-ets to those less fortunate. By thetime the jeans drive concluded, ittook five people, a dolly andcountless boxes to deliver the270-plus pairs of jeans to the localAeropostale store in Polaris mall.Needless to say, the store staffwas overwhelmed and extremelypleased with Madi’s donations.

Nominated by Kris Ryan,Madi’s mother

• • •ERIKA SEVERANCE

Blacklick 13-year-old

It all started when (Erika) sub-mitted a book she wrote (abouther dog, Lilly) to a publishingcompany for consideration. Whenthey declined, she decided to starther own publishing company (kidstyle) to not only publish her ownbook, but also the books of anychildren that wanted the experi-ence, as well.

She does it all completely freeof charge, including the shipping,and offers editing and writinglessons, as well.

Her website for her company iswww.wonderlilly.scriptmania.com.

She has already “published”dozens of books sent to her fromchildren all over the country andhands out business cards she hadprinted to every child she sees.They gave her a table at theGroveport Arts Festival to show-case some of her work and to letother kids know about it.

At the age of 11, she did afundraiser for the humane societyand raised $100 for them, walkingdoor to door with a box she la-beled “Pennies for Puppies.”

Once she turned 12, she becamea volunteer at the Franklin CountyDog Shelter.

When she was 6, she saw astory on raising guide dogs anddecided she wanted to do it, too. Itold her maybe when she was 12(of course, thinking that daywould never come).

When her 12th birthday camealong, that was all she asked for.We put in an application soonafter, and on April 6, 2010, wereceived our first puppy fromPilot Dogs Inc.

She was a golden retriever thatErika named Leslie.

Erika did everything needed to

raise her, and she was the trainerat all the obedience classes.

Nominated by Christy Weseman,Erika’s mother

• • •KRISTEN SELLAN

Westerville 16-year-old

In March of 2008, Kristen’sgrandmother, Mary Mondillo,passed away from bone cancer.She had suffered from it for 2 1/2years. One of the few ways thatKristen was able to offer comfortto her before she died was tomake her a no-sew fleece blanket.… She took it to all her tests andslept with it every night. …

In September of 2008, Kristentoured the Ronald McDonaldHouse here in Columbus. She wasso touched by that visit that shechose the house to receive theblankets she had continued mak-ing after her grandmother haddied. She wanted to offer herblankets to not only the childrenthat were sick, but also to theirsiblings staying at the house.

Kristen has delivered 195 no-sew fleece blankets to the house.She started off delivering threeblankets a month, increased thatnumber to five and is now meet-ing her commitment of 10 permonth. Kristen has had severalblanket parties at her house. Shehas attend blanket parties at otherpeople’s homes and has even helda blanket party at the WestervillePublic Library. …

When she held her first blanketparty at her house, an air horn wassounded every time a blanket wascompleted. The girls asked at theend of the night when she wouldbe having another party. When theparty at the library was held, therewere DeSales students, St.Charles students, teachers, neigh-

Continued on next page

Continued from previous page

Thirteen-year-old Madi Ryan of Westerville collected more than 270 pairs ofgently used jeans to donate to homeless shelters in the Columbus area. Shedesigned and printed flyers and spent hours delivering them.


Honorable Mentions

In partnership with

bors and even people she didn’tknow.

Nominated by Barbara Sellan,Kristen’s mother

• • •KAILYNNE TANGEMAN

Marysville 18-year-old

At school, (Kailynne) has beena peer tutor for four years, helpingfellow students who are strug-gling in their classes. She sacri-fices her study hall time to do thiswhile staying up often past mid-night to work on her own home-work. …

Kailynne is also very active inher church’s youth group, Quake.Being involved is so much morethan social time. One key area isS.O.S. (service over self). This isan annual weeklong mission tripto Memphis, where the kids workhard on impoverished persons’homes, doing such projects as re-roofing, painting, etc. She loves

the accomplishment of the tangi-ble but also building relationshipswith the homeowners, bringsmiles to an often very lonelyperson. …

One of the neat things is thatshe finances her own missionwork. Often, these are acquiredthrough hard work of her own,such as working church dinners,volunteering her babysitting serv-ices and others which build upmoney in her “Quake account.” Ifthese don’t cover it, she pays outof her own pocket. …

Because of Kailynne’s dedica-tion and leadership in her youthgroup, she was chosen to join anAfrican mission trip. She, oneother teen and two adults preppedfor months and journeyed toEthiopia in order to work on aproject to build a school in a re-mote area. She will never be thesame. Where she once considerededucation as just normal, she sawkids (and grown persons) thirstfor knowledge. Because of thisactivity, the team worked to raise

$50,000 to build the school andmade it happen.

Nominated by Jon Tangeman,Kailynne’s father

• • •JONATHAN ZINSBexley 15-year-old

I am raising and trainingHollen, my third puppy for Ca-nine Companions for Indepen-dence, who hopefully will go onto advanced training and then beprovided without charge to a per-son with a disability. We regularlyvisit The Courtyard nursing home,where the 36 residents loveHollen. I also call bingo numbersand deliver holiday treats to theresidents at The Courtyard. …

I have been an altar server atSunday Teen Life Mass sinceFebruary 2006 at St. BrendanChurch, where I also worked thefish fries and ran games at thesummer festival and breakfastwith Santa. Last December, myfamily and I made 600 Christmas

cards with Hershey’s Kisses forthe Meals on Wheels recipients.

Self-nominatedby Jonathan Zins

• • •ZACHARY ZINSBexley 18-year-old

Zachary tutors disadvantagedchildren in inner-city Columbus atRun the Race Club on EurekaAvenue and has been a positivemale role model to many sinceMarch 2008. Each December, hebrings a “buddy” to Christmas inDublin at St. Brigid parish hall,where they share a healthy meal,hear a Bible story, choose andwrap gifts for the child’s family,make a craft, play games and visitwith Santa. …

On CORE Leadership Team forSt. Brigid youth group, Zacharyhas given presentations at retreatsto teach his peers the value ofmaking good choices. He plansactivities, runs meetings and pro-vides a welcoming, accepting and

inclusive atmosphere for highschool students.

For the past three years, strug-gling students at St. Charles wereprovided a National Honor Societytutor because he coordinated thetutoring program. Zachary hasbeen an altar server at Sunday TeenLife Mass since February 2003 atSt. Brendan Church, where he alsoworked the fish fries and ran gamesat the summer festival. …

During the summer of 2008, heoffered refreshments and maga-zines to families at the James can-cer hospital. The same year, healso cleaned up the grounds afterPicnic with the Pops to help thefootball team raise funds. In 2007,he helped the nuns clean up theyard at Shepherd’s Corner andpacked care packages for soldierswith the Blue Star Mothers. In2005, Zachary assisted disabledchildren so they could play base-ball for Miracle League.

Nominated by Elaine Zins,Zachary’s mother

Continued from previous page

blood.Annually, the group collects and donates three to four tons

of food, more than 100 units of blood and $12,000 to $15,000,she said.

Klepek has acquired a talent for rallying the support of otherpeople, according to Worthington Kilbourne activities directorRalph King, who nominated Holly for the Amazing StudentVolunteers award.

She does this by raising awareness, believing that when peo-ple become educated about whom they are helping and can seehow their efforts are appreciated, they are willing to help.

“She is truly passionate about volunteer and community-service work,” King wrote. “It has become a big part of whoshe is and something she plans to continue the rest of her life.”

Holly said she plans to attend Miami University in Oxfordnext year to study pre-med, she said, and hopes to become apediatrician.

[email protected]

KLEPEKContinued from page 4

Special thanks to our partners for their support of this publication and contest.

Read about student volunteers anytime at ThisWeekNews.com/volunteers


614 -287- 5353 c scc.edu

A unique new path to a worthy goal.Introducing Preferred Pathway from Columbus State andThe Ohio State University

Preferred Pathway is a unique new curriculum path built from courses at bothcolleges that leads directly to an Ohio State bachelor’s degree in a growing listof over 80 majors. Along the way, you’ll pick up an associate degree from ColumbusState; and benefit from advisors at both schools to keep you on your chosen path.

For more information about Preferred Pathway, visit cscc.edu/pathway

It’s where the world is going

Documents

Amazing Student Volunteers 2011