District 205 Wins Public Service Award

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Students from Thornton Township High Schools, District 205 were in Washington, D.C. last week to receive the Jefferson Awards for Public Service. (L to R) Brian Geiger, Glennita Williams, Candice Sewell, Triana Williams, Maurice Kendall and Javon Hall. (Photo Courtesy of Thornton Township High Schools)
Students from Thornton Township High Schools, District 205 were in Washington, D.C. last week to receive the Jefferson Awards for Public Service. (L to R) Brian Geiger, Glennita Williams, Candice Sewell, Triana Williams, Maurice Kendall and Javon Hall. (Photo Courtesy of Thornton Township High Schools)

Students from Thornton Township High School District 205 located in South Holland are still relishing in the moment after receiving national recognition for their community service efforts. A group of six Dist. 205 students, traveled to Washington, D.C. last week to receive a recognition for community service.

According to published reports, students from the three Dist. 205 high schools raised $125,000 for charities which benefitted such causes as the American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Jerry Doss, a faculty advisor who accompanied the students on the trip said that they are excited.

I think they were most impressed because they got to go D.C., Doss told the Chicago Citizen. (It was) a culmination of hard work and community service.

The students also met national leaders including CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus, Doss said.

Dist. 205 placed second in the nation among participating Students in Action schools as the Runner-Up for the National Recipient for Outstanding Service by a High School award.

Students In Action is a national youth leadership program. Currently active in 325 high schools in 13 communities across the U.S., the program encourages high school students to get engaged and be the change that they wish to see in their communities.

The mission of the Students in Action program is to create leadership teams in high schools across the country to celebrate volunteerism and inspire others to get involved.

The student teams in each of the 13 regions met this spring where they made a presentation before a local group of judges highlighting their progress and accomplishments towards meeting the seven goals of the program.

Dist. 205 was chosen for best exemplifying these goals and expanding their volunteer capacity in their schools. In April, the district was named as the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Regional Recipient for Outstanding Service by a High School allowing them to represent the region at the Jefferson Awards National Ceremonies and have a chance to compete for a national title.

Known as the Noble Prize for public service, the Jefferson Awards are presented during a two day ceremony in Washington, D.C. A diverse mix of honorees are paid homagefrom people whove dedicated their entire lives to public service to community-based volunteers whose work that goes under the radar.

By Thelma Sardin

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