2001 Student Service Stars

The Maryland Student Service Alliance's Annual Service Star Award recognizes students who have displayed exemplary attributes and dedication to serving others within their schools and communities. The following are the names of the 2001 Service Stars and a brief description highlighting why each was selected for this distinguished award. Many of these young people are exceptional students academically, and contribute to their schools through various clubs and sports, as well as to their communities through their religious affiliation, and to their families. Where all of their involvement is not detailed, we have tried to focus on their volunteer work with non-profits which has been above and beyond the service-learning requirement for graduation.

Roger Shields, Allegany High School, 12th Grade
Roger Shields is a member of the Naval Sea Cadet Corps. As a Sea Cadet, he has been involved in spending time with elderly people over the holidays, working with the Kiwanis Club during the Heritage Days Festival, helping with community picnics, parades, car washes, and military training for youth. Roger has donated his time and money to build and maintain a web page for the Sea Cadets. Roger is considering a career and a life of service in the Navy.

Sara L. Wetz, South River High School, 12th Grade
Deeply involved in Youth RISE, a youth service group at South River High School, Sarah has chaired the Kids Helping Kids anti-hunger campaign and canned food drive for the past two years. Using her natural leadership ability to motivate others, she coordinates a corps of 12th graders who provide service throughout the school community in an innovative Community Based Credit program. She also works with the Naval Academy's Special Olympics as a "hugger" and volunteers at a local special education school. Her parents and school service-learning coordinator have been instrumental in encouraging Sarah's commitment to her community.

Judy Rugama, Patterson High School, 12th Grade
A native of Honduras and now a U.S. citizen, Judy exhibits her positive outlook on life as a leader of the Angels of Patterson, a student organization which provides both material aid and social support for children and families in the community. Judy participates in many other community activities by helping to organize others for the March of Dimes Walk at her school and for the House of Ruth.

Joseph Weiner, Pikesville High School, 12th Grade
Joe has a natural gift for relating well to people, young and old. His late grandfather inspired him through his example of helping Russian immigrants adjust to life in the United States. Joe enjoys volunteering at a local daycare and as an assistant soccer coach at the Pikesville Recreation Soccer League. Currently he is doing an internship at Sinai Hospital. He feels that through these activities he has learned patience and understanding.

Chelsea Lynn Stiegman, Patuxent High School, 10th Grade
Chelsea is an advocate of service to and for others and is active in many community activities. Chelsea served as coordinator for the Patuxent High School sponsored blood drives and participated in the "Book Buddies" teacher assistance program. She has served as a volunteer in the Calvert Memorial Hospital. Chelsea also participates in the "SMILE" clothing and food drives.

Jennifer Haifley, Westminster High School, 12th Grade
Jennifer enjoys walking and raising money for groups such as the American Diabetes Association, the nation's leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy, and the Walk for Life. Much of her time as a volunteer has been through Northwest Hospital where she volunteered in the plant operations office. She has also been involved in projects to help the homeless and is a wonderful role model for students of all ages.

Shelby Lynn Trowbridge, Elkton High School, 12th Grade
Seeing the smiles on people's faces is what inspires Shelby to work at nursing homes and help with children at an after-school day care facility. She also volunteered at the local sheriff's department, participated in canned food drives, clothing drives, and mentored a foster child. Shelby has learned that if she can be instrumental in pushing others to improve themselves, she can push herself too. Her experience serving youth has contributed to her interest in pediatric surgery.

Pre-Ah Jamela Winters, LaPlata High School, 12th Grade
Pre-Ah has volunteered at service-learning fairs, organized "Share the Warmth of Christmas," a material drive for winter clothing, and participated in Youth RISE. At Thanksgiving, Pre-Ah provided food to people at shelters, the homeless, and senior citizens. She also helped at Lifestyles of Maryland Foundation and Christmas in April. Involvement in her church is very important to her, as is being active through coaching and mentoring at La Plata High School. Pre-Ah is so committed to serving others she intends to establish an after school program for youth and always be there to help her family.

Michael Lloyd Jones, North Dorchester High School, 12th Grade
Michael is known at his school for his commitment and initiative in creating charitable programs, especially one to feed and support families with needs over the holidays. His commitment to helping those less fortunate is exceptional. Michael has developed the ability to go beyond school-sponsored and teacher-initiated events to seeing and responding to the needs around him on his own.

Amanda Leigh Turk, Urbana High School, 12th Grade
Amanda has been active through SLAB (Frederick County Service Learning Advisory Board) with environmental projects, with the Big Brother/Big Sisters Program, projects with the elderly, and Red Cross blood drives. She also tutors middle school students weekly. For her senior project Amanda created an education and prevention presentation advocating against rape and domestic abuse.

Kathleen Marie Burke, Northern Garrett High School, 12th Grade
Kathleen has been involved in service for as long as she can remember. Active in 4-H, she has helped in nursing homes, cleaned up trash, put on community plays, and volunteered at the library, which has lead to her interest in studying library science. Her brother inspired her to become a Water Safety Instructor's Aide and to work with youth with autism, Downs Syndrome, and cerebral palsy. Her volunteer experience has impacted her sense of what to do with her life and has given her new perspectives.

Ryan Allen Johns, Joppatowne High School, 9th Grade
As a ninth grader, Ryan has already organized a significant service project focusing on honoring American Veterans. This involved developing special presentations about the contributions veterans have made. He also worked with the local newspaper to promote the veterans' needs for recognition, and participated in a wreath laying ceremony at the Veteran's Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Jessica Jinhee Lee, River Hill High School, 12th Grade
Jessica has volunteered at St. Agnes Hospital and initiated the Reach Out Program at her church through which her youth group regularly volunteers at Our Daily Bread, a soup kitchen. During Jessica's junior year, she coordinated the Student-to-Student Tutoring Program linking her high school's National Honor Society with a local elementary school. Jessica also coordinated the Student Opportunities for Assistance and Review Tutoring Program, which matches peer tutors to students needing help. Jessica plans to continue her involvement in public service throughout her life.

JoAnne Donovan, Kent County High School, 12th Grade
Early service-learning experiences through her classes starting in the fifth grade helped to develop a pattern of service in JoAnne's life. In the tenth grade, she became involved in the Junior Rotary/ Interact Club whose mission is to serve the community and the world. She has fundraised and donated school supplies to local elementary and middle schools and collected stethoscopes and books to send to Sri Lanka and other underdeveloped countries. She has also aided blood drives and interned with the Sheriff's office. Her experiences have influenced her decision to help people through a career as a public servant.

Matthew Hamilton, Walt Whitman High School, 12th Grade
Matthew is a motivated student who is passionate about learning, politics, and the environment. Initially inspired through his government class, he founded "Wild Things," an environmental club at his school, and is on the executive committee of the Montgomery County Sierra Club. In addition to lobbying for environmental issues, he was a research assistant for Friends of the Earth and a teaching assistant at the Auduban Naturalist Society. Matthew intends to work with an environmental organization involved in political action.

Labriska Tyson, Bladensburg High School, 12th Grade
Labriska Tyson's interest in service stems from her grandfather who owned a plantation in Granada. He taught her the importance of environmental responsibility, particularly with trees. Three years ago Labriska initiated the first paper recycling program at Bladensburg High. She is actively involved in many Anacostia Watershed programs including cleanups and water monitoring. Through the Interact Club she has developed beautification projects that included murals and landscaping. Labriska hopes to complete college and return to the community as a mentor to high school students.

Andrew Merrill, Queen Anne's County High School, 12th Grade
Active in Youth RISE since middle school, Andrew has supported Adopt-a Family, Children's Christmas Party, the Empty Bowls Dinner, and regular work with people who are homeless in Washington, D.C. Committed to addressing the issues of poverty, Going beyond direct and indirect service, Andrew is an active, vocal, advocate for people who struggle with economic injustice. He plans to continue his commitment to service at college.

Justin D. Norris, Leonardtown High School, 11th Grade
As the chairperson of Youth RISE and by serving on the community service committee for the St. Mary's Association of Student Councils, Justin has coordinated service projects for Christmas in April, canned food drives, and School Violence Prevention Awareness Week. He is also the student member of the Executive Board of Christmas in April of St. Mary's County and works actively to involve other youth in countywide efforts to bring better housing to low-income families.

Emily Elizabeth Smith, Washington High School, 12th Grade
Emily's has volunteered extensively at local nursing homes where she loves to visit the elderly residents and do activities with them which brighten their days. In addition, she has put in a lot of time volunteering at Beth Israel Decononess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Emily is in the second year of the Health Occupations Program and has gained valuable experience which she will bring to her future work in this field through these opportunties to serve.

John Christopher Morris, Easton High School, 12th Grade
An active 4-H member, John has participated in Club projects both with the elderly and with young people. He organizes a number of special events and serves as a Junior Leader for the 4-H. He is a volunteer firefighter in a community where there is no paid fire fighting force. He has also helped with banquets, fairs, and fundraisers for the fire company. John simply likes to help others. He hopes to pursue a career in culinary arts and aspires to own his own restaurant.

Elizabeth Shannon Smith, Boonsboro High School, 12th Grade
Shannon finds many opportunities to serve others through church, school, and community programs such as food drives, adopt-a-senior citizen programs, singing and visiting in nursing homes, and serving food at the Cold Weather Shelter. She recognizes the contagious element of serving when it is done with peers collaboratively. She also recognizes that her ability to serve is enhanced by the model of others.

Skye M. Young, James M. Bennett High School, 12th Grade
Skye Young is passionate about serving others and solving community problems. As chair of the James M. Bennett Memorial Garden service project, she has been an inspirational catalyst in having more than 200 people complete a 6000 square foot picturesque sanctuary honoring the memory and celebrating the lives of three classmates and fallen youth everywhere. A natural leader, she also serves as president of SESASC (Southern Eastern Shore Association of Student Councils) and is an active member of MASC (Maryland Association of Student Councils).

Lauren Julie Scher, Pocomke High School, 11th Grade
Since middle school Lauren has taken an active role in her community by volunteering with numerous agencies and projects. She is a leader who works to inspire others to get involved themselves. In 1998 her contributions were recognized with the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. She was on the board of the State Youth Commission for Worcester County for Celebration 2000, and now serves on the boards of the local YMCA and the Worcester County Alcohol and Drug Task Force. Lauren hopes to inspire others to volunteer and continue do even more to help others.