School Partnerships

High School Seniors Lead Through Volunteer Actions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact: Rubén Solorio,
(408) 325-5129, rsolorio@catholiccharitiesscc.org

5th Annual Catholic High School Community Service
Recognition Awards - April 2, 2009 - more photo's

Seventeen seniors from the South Bay’s Catholic high schools were honored for their volunteer efforts at the 5th Annual Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County High School Community Service Recognition Awards held April 2 at the John XXIII Multi-Service Center in downtown San Jose.

The awards recognized seniors from each Catholic high school in the Diocese of San Jose for their outstanding commitment to community service. This year’s finalists provided more than 5,700 hours of service.

“The level of commitment by the students being honored tonight towards improving the lives of their neighbors – not the next-door variety of neighbors, but our neighbors from God’s family of man – is outstanding and compelling,” said Greg Kepferle, CEO Catholic Charities.

An independent panel of judges reviewed each of the finalists put forth from the schools – Archbishop Mitty, Bellarmine, Notre Dame, Presentation, Saint Francis and St. Lawrence.

The medalists from each school earned grants in their names to be awarded to the charity of their choice. Gold received $300, silver $125 and bronze $75. The funds will be used to enhance the students’ community service projects within Santa Clara County.

The nominees were graded on their exemplification of outstanding community service throughout their high school years; the students’ depth of knowledge of the social needs encountered during their service projects; and the students’ demonstrated ability to rally additional resources to improve the lives of their neighbors.

Community Links, a service-learning, volunteer, and international educational organization focused on the Americas, was also a financial supporter of this year’s Catholic Charities’ High School Community Service Awards.

Archbishop Mitty High School
Katie Helland - GOLD
Felicia Gonsalves - SILVER
Maggie Wiley - BRONZE

Bellarmine College Preparatory
Nick Votaw - GOLD
Alex Greer - SILVER
Christopher Nguyen - BRONZE

Notre Dame High School
Meaghan Amarillas - GOLD
Connie Chen - SILVER

Presentation High School
Shannon McCarthy - GOLD
Tam Nguyen - SILVER

St. Francis High School
Holly Ormseth - GOLD
Sara Grevara - SILVER
Caroline Davis - BRONZA

St. Lawrence Academy
Kara Brown - GOLD
Katey Taylor - SILVER
Jeffrey Linhares - BRONZE