It was a night to give thanks to those who already give so much of themselves, when the Lenape Regional High School District used its May 11 Board of Education meeting to honor the recipients of this year’s student volunteer service awards.
According to LRHSD director of programs and planning Matthew Webb, the awards were first implemented across the district not only to honor senior student volunteers, but also to instill in all students civic responsibility and a willingness to service their communities throughout their lives.
Webb said the students who received the award demonstrate commitment and dedication toward volunteerism as well as leadership that demonstrates others to do the same in their community.
This year’s recipients were Cherokee High School’s Katherine Taylor, Lenape High School’s Victoria Ieradi, Seneca High School’s Gabriella Magasic and Shawnee High School’s Jessica Forelli.
The accomplishments of each recipient were detailed at the meeting by that recipient’s school principal, and short videos were also played where the recipients spoke about their work along with their teachers.
Much of Taylor’s volunteer work has been centered at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, where she’s spent more than 500 hours volunteering as a science presenter.
Taylor said volunteering had been a central part of her life from a young age, and she was happy to think that some of the children she’s spoken to at the Franklin Institute might someday want to become scientists or mathematicians themselves.
“I think volunteering is important because it’s a way to give back and it’s a way to share our knowledge with others,” Taylor said. “It’s a way to spread inspiration.”
Sharing knowledge with others was also a mission for Ieradi, who in addition to being involved with food drives and tutoring work, has spent more than 500 hours with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.
For her Girl Scout Gold Service Award project, Ieradi helped improve the Pine Tree Educational and Environmental Center in Tabernacle by installing educational signs detailing animal and plants unique to the Pinelands.
“I know I’m pretty fortunate, I live in a great town, I have great parents and a great support system, so I think it’s only appropriate that people who have things should help give back to their community and help out those who are less fortunate than themselves,” Ieradi said.
Spreading the idea of volunteering throughout the community was also a goal in the work of Magasic, who volunteers at the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees in addition to work she’s done at Virtua Hospital, National Honor Society and preparing food for the homeless.
“Volunteering is important because it leaves you with a really positive feeling about yourself,” Magasic said. “You know that you’re helping others but you’re also helping yourself and earning respect for yourself at the same time.”
Positive feelings were also a theme in Forelli’s volunteer work, much of which has concentrated on helping with cheerleading through the Medford Youth Athletic Association.
Forelli has also done volunteer work through the National Honor Society and the Shawnee cheer team, and said she hopes to continue her community service well into the future.
“I would definitely say community service is one of the biggest activities of my life and not something I’d want to give up,” Forelli said.
