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Pierce County Youth Earn
First-Ever High School Letter for Community Service
July 2, 2002
For the first time, six Pierce County high school
students earned a varsity letter, the same as those earned
by athletes and musicians, for their more than 145 hours of
community service work since June of 2001.
The letter in community service program is a pilot project
that was created and implemented by the United Way of Pierce
County with full support from a youth leadership group called
Youth United, in an effort to recognize and reward local high
school students for their volunteer efforts.
Students winning the community service varsity
letter were required to volunteer their time with one school
related project and one community-oriented project totaling
145 hours or more of service. Participating school districts
included Bethel, Franklin Pierce, Tacoma, University Place,
and Annie Wright Academy. In the coming year the program is
planning to include every district in Pierce County. Most
of the district superintendents have already indicated a strong
interest in the idea.
“If we get every school district participating
in this program, it will be the first of its kind in the nation,”
Rick Allen, President, United Way of Pierce County, said.
“We are excited by the support we have received from
the various districts and believe the program provides a great
incentive for building awareness around youth volunteerism
in our community. It’s a great statement about what we
value as a community.”
“We have so many wonderful kids making
positive strides in our community through their volunteer
work, I am happy we are properly recognizing them for their
leadership efforts,” Jim Shoemake, Superintendent, Tacoma
Public Schools said. “This program places a high value
on community service at an early age so that we ensure a stronger
and healthier Pierce County community in the future.”
United Way has also partnered with Willie Stewart,
a former Tacoma School District administrator, and Karl Anderson
of Concrete Technology to run an annual golf tournament to
support volunteerism. Proceeds from the Willie Stewart Community
Service Classic will be placed in an endowment at United Way
to fund college scholarships for students, based on their
level of community service. The tournament this year is on
August 16.
Recipients of this year’s letter in
Community Service include:
Annie Wright Academy
Elisabeth Porter, Freshman, 147 Hours of Service
Porter volunteered her time to lead the recycling efforts
at Annie Wright. She is credited with up keeping the beauty
of the school chapel and organizing the Christmas fundraiser.
Porter is also active in promoting anti-drunk driving efforts.
As a member of Tacoma Area Service Club, she also participated
in events to raise funds for Afghan children and Tacoma area
nonprofits.
Monique Letourneau, Freshman, 156 Hours of Service
Letourneau is an active member of the St. Frances Cabrini
Youth and Service Group where she participated in a summer
mission in Lakewood painting an elderly person's home and
volunteering at a maternity center. Letourneau is also an
active member of United of Pierce County's Youth United program
where she completed a Youth Day of Caring project, and volunteered
at the Tacoma Rescue Mission. She also planned blood drives,
clothing drives, and variety fundraisers with the Tacoma Area
Service Club.
Wilson High School
Thu-Oanh Ngo, Junior, 145 Hours of Service
Ngo served in several capacities with the kitchen at the Tacoma
Rescue Mission. She also volunteered as an assistant counselor
for a children’s fitness camp at the Morgan Family YMCA.
In addition, Ngo tutored students at Downing Elementary as
an assistant in a second-grade classroom.
Lacey Nelson, Senior, 738 Hours of Service
Nelson spent her summer volunteering as a missionary in Nepal
where she helped bring medical supplies to children. In addition,
Nelson participated in the diversified occupations program
at Wilson High School, where she helped with a program for
inner city children, hosting overnight camps and leadership
events.
Stadium High School
Christopher Sullivan, Junior, 371 Hours of Service
Sullivan is a student interventionists at Stadium High School
and the Health Department, educating people of all ages about
the dangers of tobacco through presentations, activities and
evaluations. In addition, Sullivan serves on the advisory
committee for the Violence Prevention Program with Tacoma
Public Schools and as board representative with the American
Cancer Society.
Foss High School
Kevin Blair, Senior, 158 Hours of Service
Blair worked many hours as the youth representative on the
United Way of Pierce County Board of Directors, a leader on
United Way’s Youth Leadership Council, and volunteer
at the Willie Stewart Community Service Golf Tournament. He
is also very active with the ASB at Foss High School, planning
a variety of school activities and individual projects for
his fellow students. In addition, Blair served food at a local
soup kitchen, organized a giving tree program during the holidays,
and planned a carnival for elementary school students.
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