2008 All Star Youth

 

 

Korina Lewandowski

All Star Youth of the Day: July 17, 2008

Conservationist and Public Servant

 

Kori has earned distinguished honor roll each and every marking period while she has been at Phillis Wheatley Middle School while excelling in band, chorus, Conservation Club, Drama Club, and serving as a student council representative.  She is a member of the community’s youth soccer league.

Kori will go out of her way to help other who are less fortunate.  She especially befriends students in her classes who have few or no friends.  She has an amazing gift of generosity for a fifth grade student.

As a member of the school’s conservation club, Kori has served countless hours helping to beautify the school and to create outdoor learning environments for the students.  She has helped create habitats for animals around our school.  Her community service has also seen her volunteer serving refreshments at political functions.

After high school, Kori plans on going to college.  She is unsure of her career at this point, but is currently leaning towards being a veterinarian or teacher.

 

Alex Jackson

All Star Youth of the Day: July 18, 2008

Role Model and Compassionate

 

Alex is a 13 year old student at Milford Middle School.  He has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club since 2006.  Alex was the 2007 runner up for the Youth of the Year contest held at the Club.  While attending the Boys & Girls Club he has made a difference in the lives of many members as well as the staff. 

Alex is always respectful and is an excellent role model for the other members.  He has many friends at the Club and it is easy to see why everyone likes him because he has such a cheerful personality and kind heart.  Alex is always willing to help anyone who needs it.  He doesn’t wait to be asked to help.  Even though he has a busy schedule with football and choir, he often goes out of his way to find staff members to see if there is anything he can do to help them.  He works hard and never complains and always finishes what he starts.

Alex was an active member of the Torch Club Program and has led and/or participated in several community service projects such as cleaning and organizing areas in the Club, raising money for the new Club, and helping out at numerous special events.  He was also a Junior Staff where he assisted in the preschool room, helped younger members with their homework, and even helped out at the front desk.

Outside of the Boys & Girls Club, Alex is an active member of his church.  Alex is always willing to take on any responsibility needed to help out his mom as she is struggling to raise five children on her own.  His youngest sibling was just born with heart defects and had to have surgery and stay in the hospital for an extended period of time.  It is obvious that he loves his family and appreciates his mother very much.

Tamia Marie Bonville

All Star Youth of the Day: July 19, 2008

Volunteerism and Public Servant

 

When one thinks about the idea of an unsung hero, one person comes to mind and this is eight year old Tamia.  Some words to describe Tamia are dedication, opportunity, selflessness, and courage.  Tamia, a consistent second grade “A” honor roll student at Rehoboth Elementary School, possesses all these characteristics and more.  At the age of four he seeds of volunteer service were already being sown.  She began accompanying her mother and grandparents in delivering over 150 home cooked Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Homemade Soup & Biscuit meals yearly at no cost to the sick, homebound and elderly, at risk children, youth, and their families in the Lewes, Rehoboth, Milton, and Millsboro communities.

Tamia’s list of volunteer activities is an extraordinary one!  She is a member of the West Side New Beginnings Youth Program, West Program, West Rehoboth 4-H Club, Faith United Methodist Church Youth Kingdom Builders Choir, Sunday School Student, LPGA-UYGP (Ladies Professional Golf Association-Urban Youth Gold Program) of Sussex County, Pink Lightning Rehoboth Little League Softball Team, and Praise Dance Team.

Volunteerism has not only brought confidence to Tamia, but the most rewarding part for her is the pleasure she gains from helping others.  Although she has asthma that requires breathing treatments, allergy shots, and an emergency inhaler, at the age of seven she took part in the Walking for the Homeless Walk-A-Thon in Rehoboth in September 2007, raising more than $3,700 of the $7,000 raised.  Proceeds from the Walk-A-Thon were donated to two homeless shelters; The Crisis House in Georgetown, Delaware and the Casa Francisco in Milton, Delaware.  This summer, Tamia and her two year old brother plan to staff a lemonade stand to raise money for the homeless. 

Tamia is a shining example that it is never too early to start making a difference and what a difference she has made.

 

Taylor Hatfield

All Star Youth of the Day: July 20, 2008

Volunteerism and Community Servant

 

Taylor is loved by everyone.  She enjoys helping others, especially on the athletic field.  She motivates other to do their best and is truly a team player. 

Taylor is a natural leader with all of the good things she does.  She acts as a role model for everyone.  She has earned honor roll each and every marking period while she has been at Phillis Wheatley Middle School while excelling in field hockey and soccer.

Taylor volunteers at her church by helping out with dinners and volunteering in the nursery.  She is an active participant in the church’s sick ministry and volunteers to be a counselor at the church’s summer programs.  She has assisted the Lion’s Club serving as a cashier at the chicken barbeque.

Upon completing high school, Taylor plans on going to college.  She is currently leaning towards being a teacher, specifically a first grade teacher.

 

Aidan Gause

All Star Youth of the Day: July 21, 2008

Volunteerism and Community Service

 

Aidan Gause is an all around good kid!  He is the son of John and Colleen Gause of Harbeson, Delaware and was an 8^th grader at the Jefferson School in Georgetown, Delaware.  Aidan was very involved in school activities where he served as the Student Council President.  He has organized and implemented several things including a community service day that the children learned about different state agencies and how the agencies work together in emergency situations and how each acts alone in various capacities.  He also organized and coordinated a letter and supply drive for the US soldiers serving in Iraq, a Halloween candy drive that raised money for UNICEF, and oversaw a fund raising raffle for the Cheetah Conservation fund in Tanzania, Africa.  He has been very active this school year with raising money and collecting books for the Telemon Head Start program in Georgetown, Delaware and has even participated in reading to the children from Telemon.

Aidan took first place in the 2007 Sussex County Science Fair and won other awards such as the Center for Inland Bays Award, the DuPont Excellence in Science Award, the Tidewater award, and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Award.  He was honored by Governor Minner in the summer of 2007 as a Young Environmentalist of the Year.

Other school and non-school related activities include Georgetown Fire Prevention contest 2^nd and 3^rd place, the yearbook committee, and stage manger for the school production of Annie this past May.  He was also involved in the Lewes Chorus and the Delaware State Chorus.

Aside from being involved in school, he is also very active in the Henlopen Soccer Club as a certified referee for the youth soccer.  Aidan is also the referee assigner and coordinator which he does on a volunteer basis.  In addition, he is on the Board of Directors as an active at large member.

There is not a younger child at The Jefferson School who doesn’t want to be just like Aidan someday.

 

 

Patrick Davis

All Star Youth of the Day: July 22, 2008

Team Player and Great Competitor

 

Patrick is a model for any student athlete.  He likes to be challenged and motivates others to always do their best.  He is a true team player.  Since being at Phillis Wheatley Middle School and while excelling in sports, Patrick has earned honor roll each and every marking period.  He is a valued member of the wrestling team, soccer team, and track and field.  He is also a member of the Henlopen Hammers wrestling team.  In addition, he has participated in the Hershey track and field competition and is a member of Seaford Country Club’s youth golf team.  Recently, he won the conference championships for wrestling and has competed in national competitions this past May.  Patrick’s other hobbies include skateboarding and playing card games.

After high school, Patrick plans on going to college.  He definitely wants to continue participating in sports at the college level.  He is currently leaning towards a career in business.

 

Meghan Smith

All Star Youth of the Day: July 23, 2008

Community Server and Achiever

 

Meghan just finished her junior year at Padua Academy where she excelled as a student and as an athlete.  In addition she is an outstanding young woman who has done a great deal of community service.

Meghan has maintained a 3.25 GPA at Padua Academy and has made the Honor Roll each year.  Additionally, she represented her school at the Delaware Science Olympiad and the National History Day.  She has also been identified as one of Padua’s Student Ambassadors.  Student Ambassadors are selected by the school faculty to represent the schools at open houses, award nights, and informational sessions at local schools.  She has also been chosen by the faculty to serve as a Eucharistic Minister for the masses being held at Padua Academy.

As an athlete Meghan has made All-State in cross country since her freshman year, All-Catholic Conference in track as a freshman and All-County and All-State in track as a sophomore.  She was the Delaware State Champion in the Division I 1600 meter race and the 4x800 meter relay in her sophomore year.  She also qualified and ran in the very prestigious 2007 Nike Team Outdoor Track Meet and the 2008 Nike Team Indoor Meet.  She is also recognized as a leader among her teammates being selected as co-captain of her cross country team in both her sophomore and junior years.  As a junior, she was honored as the WDEL Athlete of the Week, the News Journal Athlete of the Week, and Dialog Student Athlete of the Week.

Volunteer work and other achievements include earning the Girl Scout Gold Award.  This is a very prestigious award from the Girl Scouts and it requires 60 hours of commitment.  Meghan chose to work with children from the Sterk School for the Deaf.  She planned a day for them to interact with Shetland Ponies at their school.  This was the first interaction many of the children have had with horses and it was a great learning experience for both the staff and children at the Sterk School.  Meghan also helped coach the Holy Angels School cross country team as well as the 8 and under swimmers at the Drummond Hill Swim Club.  She has also participated in community service with the Little Sisters of the Poor.  Additionally, Meghan has volunteered at the University of Delaware during their Sports and Activities Day for people who are blind or visually impaired.  In addition to all of this, she has regularly participated in the Relay for Life that is held at the University of Delaware.

Meghan Smith is an outstanding young woman who has demonstrated great character as well as athletic ability.  She wants to work with children in some capacity after she graduates from college.

 

Hunter Davies Harmon

All Star Youth of the Day: July 24, 2008

Volunteerism and Most Valuable Player

 

Hunter is 14 years old and just finished his freshman year at Worcester Preparatory School in Berlin, Maryland.  He excels in his academics, sports, and community.  Hunter is an excellent student and has served as Class President during 6^th, 7^th, and 9^th grades.  He has been honored on the Headmaster’s List and also named Best All Around Student.

Hunter took third place in the 2007 Optimist International Oratorical Contest and won other awards such as the D.A.R. American History Essay, Superior Academic Achievement Award in Speech, Math, Ancient Civilization, and Music.  For the past three years, Hunter has been the recipient of the Carl Walls Scholarship Award.

In his spare time, Hunter volunteers at the Children’s Beach House, Junior Cotillion of Southern-Delaware, St. Jude’s, and Cape Henlopen State Park.  Other activities include Worcester Preparatory School Ensemble and High School Choir, and contributing time and effort towards the school’s summer reading program.

When not studying or volunteering, Hunter enjoys lacrosse, football, and baseball.  As an athlete, Hunter has been named Most Valuable Player for his JV Lacrosse team n 2005, 2006, and 2008.  He has been a member of the Rehoboth Beach Major & Little League Baseball Teams since 1997.  In 2005, Hunter was named All-American Scholar, Second Team for his Pop Warner football league.  Additionally, after two years of being nominated, this past January, Hunter received the 2008 Pop Warner Casey Lynch Award for his outstanding scholastic and athletic abilities.

Hunter has shown to others that hard work and determination can be well worth the difficult and time consuming effort.

 

Taylor Ritchie

All Star Youth of the Day: July 25, 2008

Volunteerism and Role Model

 

Taylor’s actions speak louder than her words.  She remains truly modest with all she has accomplished.  She is an honor roll student each and every marking period while she has been at Phillis Wheatley Middle School

Taylor is an unbelievably positive person.  She always has a smile on her face and kind words to say.  She has a great sense of humor.  For all she has been through, fighting Dermatomositis, for the past five years.  She is a true role model for both young and old. 

Helping others, especially those that are less fortunate, Taylor has organized a fundraiser to purchase games for children at A.I. DuPont Children’s Hospital.  She raised approximately $5,000 towards this worthy cause.  In addition, Taylor has earned money to help Katrina victims.

Upon completing high school, Taylor plans on going to college.  She is currently leaning towards being a doctor because she enjoys helping others.

 

Nicole Prettyman

All Star Youth of the Day: July 26, 2008

Achiever and Role Model

 

Nicole is a young woman who has a lot of heart, always thinking of others. And what she can do to better the community in which she lives.  Nine years ago at the age of nine, Nicole had a vision to start a youth program called the Little Miss Harbeson Scholarship Pageant.  Today this program is still going strong and is now know as the Miss Harbeson Scholarship Pageant.  In celebrating the five year anniversary, the program was recognized by the Governor and Lt. Governor of the State of Delaware with a tribute for giving children and early start toward saving for their education.  To date, over $8,500 has been awarded in savings bonds benefiting over 90 children in the local community.  Nicole is one of the three co-founders of the Miss Harbeson Scholarship Pageant.

Nicole has put forth countless hours of hard work to ensure the success of this program.  She is dedicated, has made sacrifices, and has volunteered coordinating rehearsals and the pageant, and other duties that are required for a successful program.  This may include filling goodie bags with sponsors’ gifts, creating the program booklet, emceeing, entertaining, planning, organizing, and mentoring the youth like a big sister.  Since the inception of this ‘dream’ in 2000 every child goes home a winner.