Teen volunteers honored

From the BCCT.

After seeing the selfishness of our school board so well displayed yesterday, it is refreshing to see that the next generation is using a more community based focus.

Congrats to Morrisville honoree Michael Leather!

Teen volunteers honored by Bucks County YWCA
By: JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times

Jazmin Shields spends countless hours volunteering her time to make her world a better place.

The senior at Harry S Truman High School in Bristol Township is the Bucks County NAACP Youth Council president. She’s also a youth ambassador for St. Mary’s stroke awareness initiative and a volunteer with the YWCA and Camp Hidden Falls.

Plus she volunteers with Youth Fighting Against Tobacco, Neighborhood First and the peer mediation program and environmental club at her high school.

For her efforts, Jazmin has been named the Bucks County Teen Volunteer of the Year.

The Truman senior was one of 20 area teens honored by the YWCA of Bucks County recently in conjunction with National Volunteer Week for their service to the community.

The top volunteer is chosen based on a willingness to serve and take on a leadership role or significant responsibility in that service. The teens also are selected based on whether they have a mix of school and community-based volunteer efforts and how their service impacts the lives of others, organizers said.

Other teens recognized during the YWCA awards ceremony at the Bucks County Schools Intermediate Unit No. 22 complex in Doylestown on Wednesday are:

Kaitlyn Utermark, Archbishop Wood High School senior, who volunteers at Wood Services and with Aid for Friends and Operation Santa Claus.

Jaison Zachariah, Bensalem High School senior, who serves as a math tutor, a library and hospital volunteer, with the school’s Student Government Association and as vice president of Bensalem’s National Honor Society.

Anikka Grange, Bristol Borough Junior/Senior High School senior, who works with the homeless ministry, is a Titus Kitchen instructor and a member of a library club and the Interact Club.

Kristin Sandquist, Central Bucks East High School senior, is a founding member of Team Peru Denmark —Kiya Survivors, a Key Club and Interact Club member and a Special Olympics volunteer.

Thomas Lonergan, Central Bucks South High School senior, who volunteers with Doylestown Hospital patient transport, American Cancer Society Coaches vs. Cancer campaign and with community-based athletic programs in Central Bucks.

Kelly Steelman, Central Bucks West High School senior, is a March of Dimes, NOVA, Relay for Life and soup kitchen volunteer.

Julia Burke, Conwell-Egan Catholic High School senior, is a Community Services Corps vice president, a student council representative and a member of the Key Club.

Joshua Wortzel, Council Rock High School North senior, is the Garden of Giving founder and president, National Honor Society president, a member of the environmental protection and Invisible Children clubs, and Pennsbury Manor Historic Center volunteer.
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Catherine Edwards, Council Rock High School South senior, volunteers at the Churchville Nature Center, Northampton library, St. Mary Medical Center and the Bucks County Association for the Blind.

Michael Tantum, Holy Ghost Preparatory School junior, is an elementary school tutor, a Pickering Manor and music volunteer, and did his Boy Scout Eagle Scout project in Middletown’s Community Park.

Michael Leather, Morrisville Middle/Senior High School senior, is a Boy Scout, and is a member of the National Honor Society, Interact Club, and Mentors in Violence Prevention.

Valentina Souprountchak, Neshaminy High School senior, works with the district’s toy drive, People to People, Fairy Godmothers, Sister Wheeler’s annual Thanksgiving dinner and VITAS Organization for Hospice.

Elizabeth Rowland, New Hope-Solebury High School senior, is a variety camp volunteer, a Girl Scout, a member of the Key Club and a volunteer with the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation, Relay for Life and A Woman’s Place.

Colleen Moran, Palisades High School senior, is Key Club president, volunteers with the Delaware River Clean-up Community Project, Kiwanis Club and Students for Social Change and serves as National Honor Society vice president.

Kelsey Detweiler, Pennridge High School senior, volunteers with the Adopt A Highway program, Stand Tall Student Mentoring program, Pennridge Ambassador program and is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Honor Society.

Ashley Mullican, Pennsbury High School senior, has volunteered with the American Red Cross Blood Drive, New Orleans Rebuilding Effort, Aid for Friends, Souper Bowl of Caring and at Pickering Manor.

Molly Jamison, Quakertown Community High School senior, has served as a Youth With a Mission director, at Allentown Rescue Mission, Milford homeless shelter, and Quakertown food pantry and is a National Honor Society member.

Brittany Nicole King, Villa Joseph Marie High School junior, works with Canine Companions for Independence.

Geoffrey Eill, William Tennent High School senior, volunteers with a local adoption agency, Doylestown Hospital patient transport, Cat Tales Inc., American Red Cross Blood Drive, and is a Key Club member.

Each honoree received a certificate of appreciation and a monetary award for their volunteer service, organizers said.