Community Corner
West Bloomfield Youth Assistance Honors Young Community, School Volunteers
Sixty students from the Greater West Bloomfield Area give of their time and talents in schools, civic clubs and other organizations.
Sixty students representing the Oakland County communities of Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake Village and West Bloomfield were recognized for exemplary service to their schools and communities at a Youth Recognition Awards ceremony sponsored by the West Bloomfield Youth Assistance program on April 30 at Doherty Elementary School.
The Youth Recognition Awards program, now in its 17th year, highlights students who demonstrate an active commitment to making their communities a better place to live or who improve themselves through personal achievement.
The students, ranging in age from just 5 years old to 17, received awards, along with certificates of appreciation from the West Bloomfield Youth Assistance program, West Bloomfield school superintendant Gerald Hill, U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, state Sen. Mike Kowall, state Reps. Klint Kesto and Michael McCready, Oakland County Circuit Court Family Division and many other local and county dignitaries. John Scott, Oakland County Commissioner, served as emcee for the event, which was attended by 250 community supporters.
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This year, a record number of students were nominated for awards by teachers, counselors, clergy, family and friends for their community service projects. Award recipients came from schools all over the district, including Gretchko, Ealy, Roosevelt and Doherty elementary schools, Orchard Lake and Abbott middle schools and West Bloomfield High School, as well as Cranbrook.
The youngest recipient, Sebastian Romero, a kindergartner at Gretchko Elementary, was honored for collecting toys – 250 in all – to donate to children at William Beaumont Hospital. Sebastian, who was recently in Beaumont’s ICU, recalled how happy he was to receive toys during his hospital stay, through his 100 Days Counting Program. Word quickly spread of his efforts, and Sebastian was able to collect and count 250 toys.
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Ealy Elementary had a sizeable number of Youth Recognition Award honorees this year who volunteered in its Peer Pal Program, which is designed to help schoolmates with autism through reading, arts and crafts, and social activities. In all, 25 students were honored.
Many students, who initially volunteer for Peer Pals in elementary school, move up to the LINK Program when they attend middle school. Twelve Orchard Lake Middle School classmates were recognized for their work with LINK, which pairs volunteers with cognitively impaired students. Autumn Murry, an eighth-grade LINK volunteer, proudly received her award to the rousing applause of nine family members. Many of her family members are nurses, and they see Autumn becoming a nurse or special education teacher as well.
Emily Rosberg and Dalia Rubenstein were just a few of the youths who were honored for their work at the local Jewish Community Center. Dalia volunteers for two hours every Monday at the Fleischman Residence for seniors. “I like their stories,” she said.
In addition to recognition for volunteering, the Youth Assistance program gives awards for leadership and personal improvement. Abbott Middle School principal Amy Hughes spoke about nine award honorees from the middle school, including Noah Pearlman, who personally turned his grades around to A’s, instituted a Science Club, developed posters against bullying and organized a book drive. Four other Abbott students organized a group called Abbott Pride, which helps beautify the school.
West Bloomfield High School student Jake Wolok also received a Leadership award for making positive changes in his behavior. He is now the newly elected president of the Junior Optimist Club in West Bloomfield. Samson Jaent, a fifth grader at Roosevelt Elementary in Keego Harbor was called a role model for helping students as a member of the Safety Patrol and for his role in recycling efforts at Roosevelt, and Eagle Scout Will Libcke of Cranbrook raised $2,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Many other youths were recognized for their work with 4H, church youth groups, raising money for charity, organizing blanket drives, tutoring, and entertaining and helping the elderly, to name a few.
Any community member in West Bloomfield, Orchard Lake or Keego Harbor can nominate a youth 17 years or younger for a West Bloomfield Youth Assistance award, if the youth goes to school or resides in those districts. Nominations begin in February each year, and nomination forms can be found on the West Bloomfield Youth Assistance website at www.wbyouthassistance.org.
West Bloomfield Youth Assistance is one of 26 Youth Assistance programs throughout Oakland County, all sponsored by the Oakland County Circuit Court Family Division, as well as the school districts and municipalities. Oakland County Youth Assistance is celebrating 60 years of strengthening youth and their families through community involvement. For more information, visit www.wbyouthassistance.org, or call Melanie Torbert at 248-539-3869.
Honorees included:
Source: West Bloomfield Youth Assistance press release
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