JACE KILBOURNE

Jace Kilbourne, 13, a seventh-grader at Chaparral Middle School, organized a “Helping Hand” food drive at his school that yielded more than 52 boxes of canned goods and non-perishable food to feed 75 children at an orphanage in Mexico. Jace’s project was born as a result of seeing a program on the school news channel about hungry children in that county. It made him feel sad that children in Mexico were eating food from garbage cans to survive. After talking to his mother and school principal, he came up with the idea for a food drive. Jace made posters and food collection boxes and placed them throughout the school. He also enlisted help from fellow students to count and pack the donations for their trip to Casa De Libertad Bethel in Juarez, Mexico. Jace recently conducted a second drive for the orphanage. It involved four schools and they collected an addition al 60 boxes of canned goods and laundry products. Jace learned that anyone can make a difference in the world if they try.

DREW KINGSEED

Drew Kingseed, 15, a freshman at Kokomo High School, led an effort to design, finance and build a handicapped-accessible park in his town for special-needs children and their families. When Drew, who is handicapped himself, was asked last spring to head up a committee to plan and build a special park, he embraced the opportunity. Since his is in a wheelchair himself and has not had the change to actually play in a park before, he was excited about making sure other children did not miss out on that opportunity. Drew attended planning meetings with community and school officials to create design plans and select equipment. He then wrote and gave presentations to civic, church and school groups, appeared on radio talk shows and raised money by selling address books and collecting donations at football games. Finally, when the project was completed, Drew cut the dedication ribbon to officially open the new park. Drew hopes this park will benefit and impact the lives of handicapped children and their families for many wonderful years to come. Now thest children can do what other children do everyday. Playing at the park seems like such a small thing, but when you have to sit in a wheelchair and watch other children; it is truly a big thing.

GLORIA CHEUNG

Gloria Cheung, 12, a member of the Volunteer Center of Alachua County and a seventh-grader at Howard W. Bishop Middle School, created a teen-run summer day camp designed to develop young children’s interest in reading, art and music. Having won awards for her reding ability, piano playing and drawing skills, Gloria wanted to share her talents with others – especially children in need of a helping hand. After researching ways to create a summer program, Gloria contacted public officials for advice and assistance. She designed a logo; produced a promotional flyer; wrote lesson plans for art, reading and piano classes; found classroom space; recruited teen and adult volunteers; and then sent letters to prospective students and their parents. A local toy company donated art supplies after reading about Glroia’s project in the newspaper. Twenty-one children graduated from Glroia’s first two-week summer camps, and she hoped to repeat this experience each year. She would like to tell other young people to set their own goals, try your best to achieve, be a leader, a creative thinker and a problem solver.

GORDAN VISSER

Utah’s Boating Law, 73-18-15.2, requires all youth, between the ages of 12-17, to complete and pass a Division approved boating safety course before they may operate a PWC on waters in Utah. Utah State Parks and Recreation uses volunteers to teach Utah’s Personal Watercraft Education Course. Gordan Visser has played a significant role in teaching Utah’s PWC Education Course.

He has been an instructor since 1996, and frequently finds time to teach a class on a weekly class. He has been directly involved with teaching over 2,700 of the youth who have completed Utah’s PWC Education Course. In fact, Visser has volunteered over 1000 hours to Utah’s Boating Program and teaching boating and PWC safety for Utah State Parks and Recreation.

In one of his many classes, Visser found himself engulfed in a myriad of frustrating problems and thought about discontinuing his volunteer service. After pondering the ramifications of such a decision, he concluded that if just one person’s life could be saved through his efforts, it was well worth continuing teaching the classes. From this, he has made a statement where he says: “I will not teach a class with less than one student.” Since the inception of Utah’s PWC Education Program in 1995, PWC accidents have decreased over 51 %. They feel Visser’s involvement in teaching Utah’s PWC Education Course has had a significant impact on this outcome.

When Visser retired from Questar in October of 200l, he began to volunteer more of his time in the Division’s Boating Program. He has learned how to operate and master the Captain B. Safe robot boat for boating safety. His expertise with Captain B. Safe thrills children at many events. In addition to teaching a weekly PWC class, Visser assists in scheduling PWC classes and completing the necessary paperwork for each student. When a 6-month seasonal position became available in the Boating Program, Visser filled the position. However, he still volunteers to teach a weekly PWC classes and volunteers his time the remaining months of the year.

Visser is also a member of the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Auxiliary’s missions include: Teaching public education courses regarding safe boat handling, legal responsibilities, aids to navigation, rules of the road, piloting, etc; training for and assisting with search and rescue, environmental awareness issues, assisting with special marine events; and performing Vessel Safety Checks, where members of the auxiliary conduct free vessel safety examinations to ensure boats have the proper safety equipment and meet the requirements of both state and federal laws.

Visser’s efforts with regards to teaching and promoting boating safety and fulfilling the mission of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has helped to keep Utah’s waters safer and more enjoyable for the boating public.

BETTY JO BABIC

Betty Jo Babic has spent a good part of her adult life volunteering in various ways to make other peoples’ lives better. A breast cancer survivor, she is a lady of extraordinary integrity who freely shares her talents and abilities with others with no regard for personal gain or recognition.

After the death of a friend from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Betty Jo Babic personally organized an ALS Support Group in Ormond Beach (now recognized by the ALS Association – Florida Chapter). It is the only ALS support group in Volusia County. She has given unselfishly of her time and personal financial resources to ensure that the group has a place to meet and whatever else is needed for its continued growth and service to those suffering from this disease and to their families and caregivers. Instead of battling this disease virtually alone, victims of ALS and their caregivers (from 25-30 people per meeting at present) now have a source of comfort and support, the latest information available about ALS and access to an Equipment Loan Closet from which they can borrow a variety of items, such a motorized wheelchair, to make their lives easier.

ALS is not a well-know disease; there is no cure and victims often do not live long after being diagnosed. Prior to the formation of the Ormond Beach ALS Support Group there was no way for victims of the disease and their caregivers to interact so as to discover new and better ways of coping. Betty Jo Babic saw a need and responded to it by forming the support group. She made all the arrangement for the ALS support group, including finding a place to meet once a month, advertising the formation of the group in various media, acting as moderator of the group at each meeting, contacting the ALS Association – Florida Chapter, working tirelessly to accomplish her goal.

She continues to serve as a moderator of the group’s meetings, keeping records of attendees, minutes of the group’s meetings, attending meetings here and elsewhere involving the ALS Association – Florida Chapter, has attended two seminars – one in Ft. Myers and one in Orlando, participates in a telecon once a month, is available by phone to current members of the group as well as to anyone who might be interested in joining.

Babic has accumulated more than 10,000 service hours as a Pink Lady Volunteer at Ormond Memorial Hospital and has served as President of the Auxiliary and Chairman of the Surgical Waiting Desk. Some years ago she helped form the Cystic Fibrosis Support Group in Volusia County. As a Charter member of the Pilot Club of the Halifax Area, she has worked on health issues involving children, such as distributing helmets and helmet labels to Volusia County children. These labels are placed inside bicycle helmets with vital information about the child in case there is an accident and the child is unable to speak to rescue workers. She also is active in presenting to kindergarten and first graders a signature program of Pilot International entitled Brainminders, designed to teach young children to protect their brains.

Betty Jo Babic is an outstanding example of what one dedicated, energetic person can do. She turned her grief at her friend’s death into a living memorial of service to others.

BRITTANY COLON

Brittany Colon, a 12-year-old from Egg Harbor City, New Jersey, started volunteering her time with the Buddy Ball Sports League for the handicapped when she was 10 years old. Brittany is a “Buddy” with the Buddy Ball Organization, which teams up healthy kids and young adults with those who have mental or physical disabilities to play sports. Brittany finds volunteering with Buddy Ball very rewarding. Her involvement with helping the handicapped motivated her desire to pursue a career in teaching the handicapped when she gets older.

The Buddy Ball program itself began in 1995 and has been helping youth in the tri-county area of New Jersey enjoy playing sports which they would not be able to do otherwise. Brittany has made some good friends through Buddy Ball and has even missed school dances and functions because they interfere with the Buddy Ball schedule. Despite being ridiculed in school, Brittany still chooses to do what she loves best, and that is helping others less fortunate than herself.

Buddy Ball does not compensate the children who participate or assist with the games. They simply do it on their own and shed a little bit of light on the life of others. Brittany was chosen as the international Amazing Kid of the Month for May, 2003 and will be the guest of her Congressman in Washington, D.C., for her involvement with Buddy Ball.

Brittany goes above and beyond the call of duty for young girls her age and makes Buddy Ball as one of her priorities, not something she merely fits in when convenient. Her commitment to Buddy Ball makes a difference in the community and in the lives of those who benefit from the Buddy Ball Organization. Without young people volunteering their time, the disabled in the area would not be able to play organized sports like those without disabilities.

WARREN TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM

In January of 2002, just a few months after the terrorist attacks of September 11, the food service students at Warren Technical High School in Atlanta, Georgia took on a unique and heartwarming project. They decided to help the men and women of the Georgia National Guard, who were enforcing the heightened security at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, by making lunches for the troops one day each week. They prepared a delicious and nutritious lunch that would appeal to the healthy appetites of these hungry soldiers. The Warren Tech students started sending 200 delicious lunches each Friday, and they are still sending them -18 months later.

Warren Technical School, part of the DeKalb County School System in suburban Atlanta, is unique in Georgia. It is the only public vocational high school solely for students with a range of disabilities. The Warren Tech students are taught skills that will enable them to enter the world of work after graduation. Young people with disabilities do not often get the chance to serve others, and these teenagers have taken to the lunch project with refreshing enthusiasm.

As the 20 students learn to prepare, package and present food, they turn out delicious lunches each Thursday. The lunches include sandwiches, slaw, salads and cookies. Each week the students make one extra and delicious item. This could be a cake, or a platter of deviled eggs, or something equally tempting – it depends on the time of year, the weather and the season. The Salvation Army picks up the lunches each week and delivers them to the USO at the airport.

In April of 2002, the Georgia National Guard troops were relieved of duty as the security situation changed. Mary Lou Austin, President of USO Georgia, immediately requested that the Warren students continue to make the lunches for the USO. Ms. Austin said that the large numbers of military personnel passing through the Atlanta airport cannot afford expensive airport food and would really appreciate the lunch. For over a year now, the USO has received 150 lunches every Thursday and they have been very well received. Each lunch includes an evaluation form -and the evaluations are overwhelmingly positive, with heartfelt thanks included from military personnel being deployed to countries around the world.

This wonderful project is a collaborative effort between Warren Tech, The Salvation Army and the Georgia Learning Resources System. GLRS pays for the food, and the Salvation Army is responsible for the weekly “Lunch Run” to the airport. In addition, the DeKalb County School System helps with goods and services; Warren Tech teachers volunteer their time, and chefs from the American Culinary Federation volunteer assistance in helping the students to prepare these tasty lunches. The ultimate winners are the students, who are honing their culinary skills while learning how deeply satisfying it is to help others.

VIRGINIA VAUGHN

Virginia Vaughn was diagnosed with stage IIIc ovarian cancer at the age of 43. Finding very little information about her illness, she went online and found the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC). She founded and is President of the Delaware division of the NOCC (DE NOCC). The organization’s mission is to promote education and awareness of ovarian cancer.

Vaughn has been in contact with doctors statewide to promote more awareness and sensitivity to the needs of women with ovarian cancer (newly diagnosed or survivors). DE NOCC serves as a support group for survivors, their families and caregivers. Vaughn regularly speaks to women’s groups about ovarian cancer and distributed information throughout the state via libraries, doctor’s offices, health clinics and churches.

Vaughn arranged for DE NOCC to be a Prevention Partner with the Healthy Delaware 2010 project. Healthy Delaware 2010 is a state-specific plan of Healthy People 2010, a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative. Its goals are to increase the quality and years of healthy life and eliminate health disparities. Vaughn received a Healthy Delaware 2010 Hero Award (in preventive services use) in 2002. She also received one of Delaware Governor Minner’s 2003 Outstanding Volunteer Awards.

Vaughn is also a volunteer with the American Cancer Society of Delaware and assists in advocacy and legislation issues. She wants to work to get more legislation passed in the state, not only for ovarian cancer, but for all forms of cancer. She feels that there is a great need to get better health insurance coverage for cancer patients. Selected as a Community Ambassador for the American Cancer Society (Mid-Atlantic Region), she was one of the representatives for Delaware at Celebration on the Hill in September 2002 in Washington D.C.

For several years, Vaughn was heavily involved with the Delaware Chapter of the National Rehabilitation Association (DRA), including holding the office of Secretary for several years. She was President of the DE Chapter of the National Rehabilitation Secretaries Association and a member of the DE Chapter of the National Rehabilitation Administrators Association. In addition, Vaughn has volunteered at the Mancus Foundation, provided parties for children at Terry Children’s Psychiatric Center and participated in bowl-a-thons to benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Vaughn completes all of her volunteer service in addition to working full time and assisting with caring for her mother, who was paralyzed from the chest down after a robbery attempt several years ago. Although Vaughn faces possible recurrence of her ovarian cancer, she vows to make sure that other women know of this “silent killer” and strives to save as many women’s lives as possible.

DELAWARE VALLEY EARTH FORCE

Delaware Valley Earth Force supports programs that encourage youth to work cooperatively with parents, educators, community leaders and businesses to address environmental problems through service projects in their communities. Delaware Valley Earth Force brings to the greater Philadelphia area the mission of Earth Force, a national organization that gives youth the skills to turn their passion for the environment into lasting change in their communities.

Delaware Valley Earth Force trains and supports educators in the Earth Force community action and problem-solving (CAPS) program. CAPS help educators guide youth to create long-term solutions to local environmental issues in their communities. The CAPS framework emphasizes the importance of conducting balanced research and developing a strategy that ensures a sustainable solution to an identified problem.

In its fourth year of operation, Delaware Valley Earth Force works with more than 2,000 youth in the Philadelphia-metro area. The majority of those involved represent underserved communities where many of the students have been identified as “at-risk.” Delaware Valley Earth Force has programs in traditional public schools, charter and magnet schools, alternative educational settings and community organizations.

Through Delaware Valley Earth Force’s CAPS program, young people develop the skills and attitudes necessary to become and remain active, engaged citizens. Students themselves are responsible for the whole range of project activities including environmental and community research, environmental problem identification, strategy decisions, design and implementation of an action plan and evaluation. They work collaboratively with other students, realizing that they can make an important difference in their communities.

For example, Cheltenham Township High School students have been conducting experiments and extensive research on the possibly harmful effects diesel fuel emissions from idling school buses can have on students. They collected signatures for a petition for buses that do not use diesel fuel. They videotaped the visible pollutants coming from the buses. The students presented their findings to their local school board. The school board agreed to look into buses that use alternative fuels and examine new policies about how long buses can idle. The students’ research was the basis of a grant the school board submitted to a transportation company to upgrade their bus fleet. Other schools have worked to tackle urban blights, reduce water pollution, protect wildlife and more!

One of the teachers at Turner Middle School said because of Earth Force’s time, energy and commitment, her students are rejuvenated, invigorated, excited and actively protecting the environment. They no longer use only textbooks to learn about history, geography or the environment. The students are excited about doing research and learning on their own. She feels that she is truly guiding her students’ and they are enjoying learning new concepts. Another teacher advised the Earth Force CAPS methodology has inspired her students to take on environmental problems in their community and also going beyond the surface to achieve a deep understanding of the complexities of environmental issues.

BRITTANY MACDONALD

Brittany Macdonald is a 24-year old graduate of Brigham Young University from Orem, Utah. She is an example to other youth and a mentor to those younger than her.

Brittany served as the President of Brigham Young University’s Golden Key International Honor Society from 2001-2002. She utilizes her position to help motivate and inspire other children. In March of 2001, she led more than 2,400 youth in Utah County to live a healthier life.

Brittany mobilized in excess of 100 Brigham Young University Students to volunteer with elementary students. The college youth went to pair up and teach third and fourth grade children in Provo, Orem, American Fork, Spanish Fork, Lindon, Payson and Lehi.

Brittany and her volunteers gave 40-minute BEST presentations to the children. BEST is an acronym for healthy living. The “B” is for building a healthy body through exercise, the “E” is for eating right, the “S” is for staying away from drugs and alcohol and the “T” is for thinking ahead to setting goals.

The children and teachers as well as the volunteers benefited. The teachers supported the program because it involved college students in the lives of elementary students. The message came across to them in a better way because they saw it coming from people that to them were still ‘young people’ as opposed to coming from their teachers. The students became very involved and the volunteers saw the impact they were having on the children.

Brittany’s work on this project, combined with her grades and extra curricular activities, earned her a USA Today 2002 All-USA College Academic Honorable Mention. USA Today was seeking 20 students who could be held up as representatives of all outstanding undergraduates in the country. The judges considered not only grades, honors and leadership; but they also looked at how the nominees apply their intellectual skills outside the classroom and how that benefits society.

Brittany graduated from BYU in April 2002 receiving summa Cum Laude and valedictorian for the College of Biology and Agriculture honors. She currently continues her efforts promoting healthy lifestyles in children by working as a clinical dietitian at Primary Children’s Medical Center.