Proof that today’s youth are making a contribution to society was apparent Thursday night when several Rowan County students and groups were honored at the sixth annual Service Above Self Youth Awards.
The greatest individual award went to Alex Livengood, a fifth-grader at China Grove Elementary, who volunteers everyday in the lunch room by helping kindergarten students.
Officials say Livengood has been instrumental in helping hearing impaired students learn sign language. At lunch each day he sits with a different hearing impaired student and includes them in his conversations to prove that signing is normal.
The student will get $300 to donate to the charity of his choice.
The judges also gave a special $1,000 cash prize to South Rowan High School for submitting the most unique nominations by deadline.
Sponsored by the Rowan Rotary Club and United Way, nine students and eight school groups — out of 106 nominations — received Superintendent’s or School Group awards at the Holiday Inn in Salisbury.
Last year, 38 nominations were submitted.
Judges based their decision on an essay written by the person submitting the nomination, including a description of the volunteer’s work, the need that person filled, number of hours volunteered, how they achieved their mission, the challenges they faced and how their services made a difference in the community.
People nominated students for things like helping students who are physically or mentally challenged cope in everyday school life, helping new students who speak no English and building homes and chapels in other countries.
More than 500 parents, friends, and other guests crowded the room at the Holiday Inn to honor the young achievers.
“It is such an honor to finally recognize the good that our youth is doing instead of telling the bad things that they get into,” United Way Associate Director Jackie Harris said recently as she prepared for the event. “I just enjoy doing this. Ireally do. And it is so much fun.”
Jim Duncan, chair of the awards committee and master of ceremonies, presented the awards. “It’s refreshing to know that we have this kind of volunteer support behind us in this community,” he said.
The Superintendent and Group Awards were subdivided into three categories: K-5, middle school and high school.
Prizes for the Superintendent Award included a $500 savings bond for first place, $250 bond for second and $100 bond for third.
The Group Award winners received $500 for first, $100 for second and $50 for third.
Here are the winners by category, first to third:
- K-5 Superintendent’s Award: Livengood, China Grove Elementary; Austin Brown, a fourth-grader at China Grove Elementary; and Beverly Bourn, a fourth-grader at China Grove Elementary.
- Middle school Superintendent’s Award: Jonathan Plummer, a ninth grader at North Hills Christian School; Mark Meredith, a sixth-grader at Erwin Middle School, for volunteer work at Morgan Elementary School; and Melissa Ramos, a seventh- grader at Knox Middle School.
- High School Superintendent’s Award: Clint Erwin, a senior at West Rowan High School; Ashley Barrier, a senior at East Rowan High School; and Zachary Simmons, a sophomore at South Rowan High School.
- K-5 School Group Award: Hannah’s Helper’s, China Grove Elementary School; Salisbury Academy; and Youth Making a Difference.
- Middle School Group Award: Organ Lutheran Church Youth Group; West Rowan Environmental Science Club; and Rowan County Teen Court, Youth Services Bureau.
The School Group Award winners for high schools were East Rowan High School Army Junior ROTC, first place; South Rowan High School Interact Club, second place; and Rowan County Teen Court, Youth Services Bureau, third place.
Organizers also gave Service Above Self Awards to Harris, Duncan and Rowan-Salisbury Schools Superintendent Dr. Wiley
Doby.
“This award ceremony was necessary because these young people are our future,” said Duncan. “We want to encourage them to continue doing what they are doing as well as inspire others to join in their efforts.”
Contact Cortney L. Hill at 704-797-4249 or chill@salisburypost.com
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