Criteria: This youth gives of oneself as an individual or as part of a group to improve the quality of life for people, animals or the environment. This service can be provided at home, at school or in the community
Bio: Salesha is a senior at Springfield High School, and an active member of the Springfield-Holland Assets Promoting Excellence (SHAPE) Coalition, including serving on its board. As a member of SHAPE, Salesha has developed and supports a variety of service programs.
Salesha is helping to coordinate SHAPE’s 12 Months of Caring, in which the coalition partners with various sectors of the community by sending monthly letters and gifts to adopted troops in Iraq. Salesha helped with the planning of this project, and has volunteered to supervise a month to make sure that the troops get what they need. In addition, she is a key student in planning SHAPE’s project for the Global Youth Service Day, in which SHAPE is going to complete a yard project for ten elderly residents in the Holland community.
Salesha also volunteers for schedule pick up day at the middle school and high school, Challenge Day, Community Business Ties Event, the Secret Santa Work Shoppe and for various kids’ nights at the local elementary schools. She also finds time to tutor children at Holland Elementary School.
Stacy Browning, Executive Director for SHAPE, admires Salesha’s efforts in the community: “Salesha gives of herself continuously without expecting anything in return; she is such a great example of what we want youth to be, and I am thankful to have had the chance to work with such a positive, caring individual.”
Criteria: This youth has overcome a personal challenge or disability in order to help and/or to inspire others
Bio:Zac is a seventh grader at Perrysburg Junior High School. In many ways, he is your typical 12-year-old boy; however, in other ways he faces challenges not often experienced by an average junior high student. Although Zac has been diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia, a rare degenerative neurological disease, he does not let it slow him up or bring him down. Rather, he approaches life with an energy and zeal that equals and even surpasses other youth his age.
Zac does well at school and remains active despite the limitations imposed upon him. With the help of his trusty assistance dog, Zane, Zac continues to be involved in as many activities as possible and he continues to inspire all of those around him. Recently, Zac spoke to students at his former elementary school; he introduced them to Zane, and he also introduced the guest assembly speaker, an individual who lives with Friedreich’s Ataxia and discussed the disease and its impact. Zac’s good nature and sense of humor shined that day, and the students at the elementary school still remember Zac and his enthusiastic visit.
His fourth grade teacher and one of Zac’s four nominators, Madelyn Rexer says that Zac “...feels a deep responsibility to provide his experiences, knowledge and service to be of as much assistance as he possible can to others. The impact Zac has had on his friends, teachers and community in general has been extremely altruistic.”
Criteria:This youth generously uses creative gifts and talents in order to bring comfort or pleasure to others without receiving monetary gain
Bio:Icee is a junior at Rogers High School and a member of the teen drama troupe, Big Dog Productions. The troupe is sponsored by Positive Choices, a youth abstinence and education program affiliated with St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center.
As part of Icee’s involvement in Positive Choices, she acts in and writes plays and skits that promote positive messages. In one play, she stars as a mother who has no money or gifts for her children on Christmas, but rather emphasizes the value of a loving family. Another play dealt with the ravages of crime and drug addiction on an impoverished family, and the family’s struggle to choose a different path. In addition to these plays, Icee also helps a group of special needs students write skits and then act out their performances for youth throughout Toledo.
Icee’s ability to deliver such positive messages is all the more inspiring given her own personal background. A family tragedy resulted in her placement in Cleveland’s foster care system, where she bounced around before being relocated in Toledo. A loving foster care parent and her introduction to Positive Choices helped turn her life around. According to Kathy Okuley, Program Director at Positive Choices, “Icee’s enthusiasm, energy and love are tangible. She is an excellent role model, because she lives what she teaches and holds the high expectations for others that were finally held for her.”
