Rye Elementary School
5th Grade Student Council
2005 Press Release: StarMight Foundation New Hampshire Stellar Student Award Honorees Announced!
The StarMight Foundation, a non-profit 501-3 organization Empowering Youth Volunteers To Make A Difference, is pleased to recognize the 2005 Rye Elementary School First Semester Student Council Members.
In honor of their outstanding efforts to serve their community, the Rye Elementary First Semester Student Council Members are this years recipients of The 2005 StarMight Foundation’s New Hampshire STELLAR STUDENT AWARD. This award is given to elementary and middle school youth or youth to acknowledge outstanding dedication to serving community through volunteer service. Youth actions that make a difference in schools and community are commendable! Valiant efforts, both individual and in teams, inspire and encouraged young peers to get involved and volunteer. A StarMight Stellar Student gives their time, effort, creativity and compassion to selflessly help others, and share the joy of volunteering with other youth. We at the StarMight Foundation would like to thank and recognize youth volunteers for their contributions and care for the quality of their community. Together, students around the nation are proving that youth are agents for positive change, and the power of youth can change the world!
Under the direction of their Student Council Advisor, Jackie DeFreze, the First Semester Student Council Members introduced a new sweater drive program to their school and community during the fall of 2004. Thanks to their leadership efforts, the 2004 Help Someone Live Better With A Sweater Drive delivered over 2,000 warm sweaters and sweatshirts to NH families in need. This dynamic group of students have also led their school in a number of community service activities. They sold 100 yellow "Live Strong" bracelets in just six minutes, held a food drive for the Cross Road’s Shelter in Portsmouth, delivering 800 food items to the food pantry AND sent well over $3,500 in relief aid to Asian children and tsunami victims from a spare change drive that they hosted. The Rye Elementary School Fifth-Grade Student Council Members are proof positive of how youth can accomplish great things when given the opportunity!
Welcome to The StarMight Foundation
Stellar Student Award Page
Thanks For Visiting!
A very special THANK YOU is extended to
BARNES & NOBLE BOOKS, of Newington, NH, for generously supporting the Stellar Student Awards with gift bag donations for our 2005 Stellar Student Award recipients!
Also 2005 Recipients!
Hope Cusano
Sam Cooper
Oyster River Interact Club
Ian Palleiko
How did you decide to work on this project? After school all my friends were busy so I got kind of bored. Then my Mom suggested I do this.
Who helped you? my neighbors and my Mom and Dad
Who did the project benefit? Homeless people in New Hampshire
What was the biggest challenge for you? Counting all the sweaters
What was your favorite part of this project? Organizing it
Why do you think volunteerism is important for young people? So they can help make the world a better place.
What advice would you give to a young person interested in volunteering or starting their own project? Go to the StarMight website and see what other kids have done. Then you can see what you can do.
Age: 8
School & grade: Hampton Centre School
Extracurricular activities: jumping rope
and riding bikes with her friends
Favorite subject in school: writing
Favorite music/band: Rock
Favorite movie: Big Momma’s House 2
Community service project: Help
Someone Live Better with a Sweater Drive. I collected 148 sweaters in my community.
Interviewed representatives:
Jessica, Molly and Shannon
Ages: All 16
School & grades: 10th and 11th grade, Oyster River High School
Extracurricular activities: acting, guitar, literary magazine, writing, singing
Favorite subjects in school: English, Math, Art
Favorite music/band: Showtunes, Oldies, Soft Rock and Country
Favorite movie: Clueless
Community service project: Help
Someone Live Better with a Sweater Drive, Bucket Brigade, Homework Passes for Hurricane Katrina and more!
How did you decide to work on this project? The Bucket Brigade was thought up by one of our co-presidents of the club. Kids at school got to take this paper buckets with something needed, like sunscreen or sunglasses of this paper sun in the hallway and then brought in what they picked to the library.
Who helped you? students, the Interact club, Assistant Principal, Kitchen staff
Who did the project benefit? Children at St. Charles in Rochester
What was the biggest challenge for you? Sorting the sweaters for the sweater drive
What was your favorite project? Stocking Stuffers for Community Action
How did you get other kids involved? Word of mouth, put up signs in school, announcements, set up a table in the cafeteria and created big banners.
Why do you think volunteerism is important for young people? It's good to get kids involved and keep some out of trouble. Shows kids that there are people less fortunate than them out there and we should be thankful for what we have. Makes me aware of things going on in the world. Working with children is something I can relate to because I have 4 siblings and I like to help kids.
What advice would you give to a young person interested in volunteering or starting their own project? Go to an Interact meeting, talk to someone who does volunteer and look for other community service groups at your school.
