2007 All-Star Youth Winners

Amy Brinkley
All-Star Youth of the Day: July 19, 2007
Volunteerism and Community Service

Amy is 16 years old and just finished her Junior year at Sussex Central High School in Georgetown. She excels in her academics and community.  Amy is an honor roll student,  a member of the National Honor Society, a Michael C. Ferguson Scholar, president of the Key Club, and a biology tutor.  Amy’s commitment to her community is extraordinaire!  She is actively involved in the Georgetown Boys & Girls Club, has helped with the World AIDS Day Ceremony in Rehoboth for the past two years. During her volunteer hours at the Boys & Girls Club, she takes care of handing out snacks, works the front desk, helps with study hall and much more.  She has worked as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army and picked up litter around Georgetown. Amy was recently recognized as the Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Club for the Delaware. She will now compete in the regionals for the Northeast Region Youth of the Year and hopefully move onto the National level.  If given the chance Amy would like to travel to Africa to do mission work.

 

Samantha Withrow
All-Star Youth of the Day: July 20, 2007
Volunteerism and Support of Special Olympics

Samantha claims to be the typical 16 year old teenager from a small town with big dreams.  What sets her apart from others is her compassion to help those with disabilities. Samantha has spent the last five years volunteering her time with Capital Dream Catchers, a Kent County based organization that helps Special Olympic athletes reach their goals.

She is a senior at Caesar Rodney High School, AP (advanced placement) student, captain of the school’s swim team and is very focused on her academics. Samantha is in the top ten for the Henlopen Conference Girls State for swimming, on the academic honor roll and the athletic honor roll. She helps train & coaches the Special Olympics swim team, along with the bowling, basketball and soccer teams. After graduation in  2008 she plans on attending college and wants to major in Psychology with a minor in Education. She wants to help others.

Samantha is a member of the National Honor Society, Junior Classical League, Latin Club, USA Swimming, Lake Forest Swim Club, is a member of the Whatcoat United Methodist Youth Group and the Women’s Chrysalis Girls 21 (church retreat group), and a mission group.  She recently received the Governor’s Youth Volunteer Award in Human Needs based on her work with Dream Catchers. Samantha loves spending time with her family and friends, swimming, helping others.

 

Sarah Hurst
All-Star Youth of the Day: July 21, 2007
Perseverance and Public Servant

Perseverance only touches the tip of Sarah’s personal struggles in her life and this quality will continue to carry her to great heights throughout her life.  Sarah has lived a difficult life, abandoned by her father at a young age she has endured many hardships and emotional struggles - all which have strengthened her and taught her how to survive. Volunteering, missionary work, a survivor, fantastic student, loyal to her family, church, friends and school - all these things describe Sarah.  In the past year she has volunteered over 700 hours! She was a recent recipient of the Newark Jefferson Award for her work as a public servant.

Sarah is a student at Newark High School. She is the Vice President of FFA, active in the Nature Society, participates in Student Government, Chorus and Christians in Action. She is an avid horsewoman and volunteers her time at a local horse farm; grooming horses, mucking stalls, and providing assistance to the owner. Sarah’s college plans include continuing her missionary work and earning a degree in equine veterinary medicine.

Sarah’s  future is a positive one. She has been influenced by the so many; from her missionary grandparents and cousin to the tower of strength shown by her mother to seeing her brother turn his life around but especially to the almighty who has always been there for her - no matter what. Sarah Hurst is the epitome of a survivor.   

 

Maddie Morgan
All-Star Youth of the Day: July 22, 2007
Perseverance

When Maddie was born the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck.  She had inhaled meconium and was on a respirator for the first four days of her life.  By the time her first birthday rolled around she had been diagnosed with Waardenburg syndrome type II -  a rare genetic disorder often resulting in a bilateral progressive hearing loss. She currently wears a hearing aid in each ear. At age 3 Maddie attended the Delaware School for the Deaf until 8th grade and received permission from the Red Clay Consolidated School District to attend Alexis I. DuPont High School. 

At age 4, Maddie started playing soccer. And now at age 16 Maddie is still playing soccer!  She is often the first reserve put into the game.  Maddie can’t hear the referee’s whistle or the chatter from the players. She has to play her best while paying attention to everything and everyone around her - but her head is always in the game! She played varsity volleyball last fall and was a point guard on the varsity girls basketball team this past winter. According to her coach she is no different then any other girl on the team - she jumps into conversations, is giggly, and sometimes just a little goofy.

Maddie has an interpreter with her every day in school and during any sports events.  Her parents sign as do many of her friends.  Maddie has started an informal club to teach sign language to others.  Maddie has continued to persevere!

 

Keeley Gorman
All-Star Youth of the Day: July 23, 2007
Volunteering and Perseverance

Keeley  was born with a birth defect that has presented numerous challenges for the past 18  years.  However Keeley has not allowed these challenges to stop her or slow her down with her academics, athletic ability, community involvement and social aspect of her life.

Keeley is 2006 graduate of Sussex Central High School. She was an honor roll student, a member of FFA and last year was honored as the MVP of the Sussex Central Girls Swim Team.  Keeley was nominated to Who’s Who Among American High School Students in 2003 and received the Presidential Award for educational achievement. Keeley is actively involved in the community of Georgetown.  She has been a member of the Georgetown Volunteer Youth Group for 7 years, has participated in the Return Day Activities since 1991 and in 2004 was the Return Day Youth Ambassador! 

Keeley is an loyal exhibitor at the Delaware State Fair and has been recognized in the Culinary Dept, Arts & Crafts, & Needlework Dept.  She has participated in the Punkin’ Chunkin’ Cooking Contest and with the Delaware State Grange events. Keeley plans for the future include working with abused animals, continuing to support her home town of Georgetown and being the best person she can be!

 

Sierra Spicer
All-Star Youth of the Day: July 24, 2007
Community Service

Sierra is 15 years old and a student at Laurel High School, where she maintains a 4.0 GPA.  Sierra demonstrates outstanding academics and her goal is to become involved in musical and dramatic theater productions.  However for several years Sierra has dedicated her energy, time and skills to helping her community in whatever way she can.

In January of this year, Sierra was selected by WBOC-TV as one of the Jefferson Award recipients.  Sierra is a director on the Laurel Community Foundation Board, is a member of the Leo Club (sponsored by the Laurel Lions Club), and she has assisted the Lions Club with Vision Days and Sight Nights plus the Journey for Sight.  Sierra volunteers at Christmas time with the Toys for Tots program. She has been instrumental in raising thousands of dollars through various events to assist relief programs and the Hope House in Laurel.  In 2004 she was a Lions Club International Peace Poster Contest merit award  winner - her poster was in the top 24 out of 350,000 entries. Sierra is a two-time Ben Carson Scholarship recipient, a Lions Club International Melvin Jones Fellowship Award for Humanitarian Service recipient and a two-time Governors Youth Volunteer Service Award winner.

Sierra has performed in dozens of musical and dramatic theater productions and hopes to be able to use her talents in the future to follow her compassionate heart as she continues to help her community. 

 

Alicia & Brandon Lewandowski
All-Star Youth of the Day: July 25, 2007
Dedicated to Better Health

Alicia, 16 years old and brother Brandon, who is 14 years old, found the ideal way to honor the memory of their
father, Michael - and that is by promoting a healthy lifestyle for kids of all ages!

Michael Lewandowski would have turned 38 last month however after 18 months he lost the battle with cancer last October.  Michael was a 1987 graduate of Salesianum School and was the manager of nutrition services for the Red Clay Consolidated School District.  He loved his job and he loved the interaction with the kids. He played and coached soccer , was an avid runner and a great Dad.  In March of 2005 he discovered a lump in his neck & shoulder area that was later diagnosed as a rare and deadly form of sarcoma. The whole family enjoyed one last summer together in 2006 and  Michael wanted to leave his family with a positive outlook.  It worked!

Alicia and Brandon worked together to create a non-profit organization known as ‘Kids Kickin’ Cancer’. Through the support of family & friends, 670 people showed up to run & walk in the r5K race - with $14,000 in proceeds given to the  Helen F. Graham Cancer Center at Christiana Care to fund cancer research.

Alicia will be a Junior this fall at Padua Academy. She is involved in Student Council and swim team.  Brandon will be entering Salesianum in the fall - still focusing on soccer.

Alicia & Brandon, along with Mom Renee, know that Dad would be proud of what they have accomplished but more vital is to make sure kids and adults know and understand the importance of physical fitness.  

 

Emmery Williams
All-Star Youth of the Day: July 26, 2007
Dedicated to Family Traditions

Emmery is a Junior at Milford High School and is following a family tradition of music.  When she started playing the piano, at the age of 8, her teacher indicated she had a natural gift for music. For the past eight years she has studied from classical to jazz. 

Emmery is actively involved in the Delaware State Music Teachers Association.  She auditioned for the statewide honors recital through her performances at The Piano Festival at the University of Delaware and was invited to play in a recital at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, PA. Emmery has performed in nursing homes, church activities, weddings, piano competition marathons, and at various Milford High School plays and events.  Last year she was awarded a 2-week scholarship to attend the University of Arts in Philadelphia and a scholarship by the Coast Concert Association of Lewes.

Emmery will be traveling to Europe this summer with the American Music Aboard Gold Tour, visiting 5 countries and performing with the Choir.

Emmery is an active member of the Milford High School Marching Band and Concert Band.  She also composes music, is active in the jazz  band, participates in soccer, track and cross country. She will be graduating in 2008 and plans on attending Berkley School of Music in Massachusetts. 

 

Kimberly Wright
All-Star Youth of the Day: July 27, 2007
Perseverance

Kim has proven time and time again that she can rise to the challenges put before her - her perseverance has helped make Kim a young woman mature beyond her years.

Kim started at Cape Henlopen High School in January 2004 as a Sophomore. She was dealing with the disappearance and presumed death of her mother. Over the next several months Kim was in limbo until her mother’s body was found and closure could begin. She worked with the counselors at Cape Henlopen High School and chose to use the school as an outlet of friends to help her through this emotional time.  Kim’s childhood was a difficult one as she moved quite often, she understands the meaning of homeless and has never known her father. Kim takes a firm stand that her family situation and childhood will not define her as the person she will become.

Kim is a solid academic student and is ranked 78th in a class of 215 with a cumulative GPA of 89. Kim challenged herself in her Senior year with Honors in English and the highest level of Spanish offered.

To prevent Kim from becoming a ward of the state, her aunt became her guardian.  Her dream is to attend a four year college however her financial situation makes that dream hard to reach. She is a strong young woman who has overcome unbelievable obstacles while maintaining focus, drive and commitment to achieve academically, socially and emotionally - no doubt she will be one of our great leaders.  Congratulations Kim and keep reaching for your dreams.

 

Ariel Evans
All-Star Youth of the Day: July 28, 2007
Perseverance and Leadership

Ariel is 15 years old and a student at Sussex Central High School.  Ariel demonstrates a high level of academic ability and is quite artistic. She is currently an Art Protégé at the Center for the Arts at Sussex Central. She has advanced to the level of Blue Belt in the world of Chinese Marital Arts and continues to train under Edgar Livingston. This type of mind, body and spirit training has been instrumental for Ariel’s ability to focus. Ariel is also involved in Girl Scout Troop 846 in Georgetown and has received the Bronze Award and is working towards the Girl Scout Silver Award. She has served as the hostess at the ‘Women of Distinction’ Celebration held at the Hotel DuPont. She is an experienced equestrian and is an assistant instructor at Singletree Stables Summer Camp in Seaford.

This certainly is all very impressive but Ariel has one more talent - skill - extracurricular activity that she is involved in; Hang Gliding!  Ariel had a dislike of heights however at age 12 her Dad thought it was time and she took her first lesson at the Kitty Hawk Hang Gliding School.  She successful passed her ‘Hang 1’ test in 2005 and was featured in an article in the monthly publication Hang Gliding Paragliding. Ariel competed in the 2006 Spectacular hang gliding event at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.  She competed against dozens of guys in the novice division - which is VERY competitive.  Ariel finished in FIRST Place and she had just turned 14 years old!  Awesome!