Larry R. Jones Volunteer For Life Scholarship

Dave Glynn once said, "Don't ever question the value of volunteers. Noah's Ark was built by volunteers, the Titanic was built by professionals." I have never been one to be prideful. In fact, I have always strived to show humility, respect, and understanding. Growing up in a single-parent, low-income family, I was taught that a single person can help change the perspective of many. We have faced struggles and hardships. I have seen the unbelievable and experienced grief, guilt, and shame. I have faced depression one on one. Growing up in such austerity has allowed me to gain discernment and understanding. During my time of struggle, I had nowhere to turn so I turned to volunteering. It was a safe place for me to give back and bring the joy that I lacked so much of to the faces of other people just like myself. Volunteering throughout my community was a light at the end of a dark tunnel of anguish. My specific volunteer experiences include working as a bible camp art counselor, attending and acting as a face painter as part of my community's summer festival, participating in tailgates and fundraisers for my school's National Honor Society program, volunteering at community fish fries, and helping out a local Century 21 housing agency by cleaning houses and apartments that people move out of so they are safe and clean for the next residents. I have learned so much from each of these experiences and have allowed myself to continuously give back to my community without compensation. My specific volunteer experience permitted me to not only help my community but become a part of it. I have helped teach, give, guide, lead, and shepherd. I was able to give something so little and provide wisdom and help to those who needed it most and overall increase the beauteousness of my community. And while my impact on the community is prominent, so is the sagacity I received from the people as well. I may have been a volunteer, but the people have taught me so much. I was taught how to be strong, yet humble. Confident, yet demure. Understanding, yet thankful. I was given a pass to contentment and remission to sanctification. So as I continue through life, I will take the wisdom I gained from my impactful volunteer experiences and use it to continue better serving my community and keep the cycle flowing because giving so little can mean so much. I may just be one star in a galaxy of volunteers but to many in my community, I am their sun, their hope.

Who is Sarah Kate Shook? Surprisingly, that’s one of the hardest questions for me to answer about myself! I do think I know what others might say. I can almost hear the conversation . . . Sarah Kate is a senior at Hampton High School who has two older brothers and a much younger sister. She twirls batons (often three at a time!) and she’s an honor roll student who still (secretly - shhh!) bakes cookies for her teachers. She’s quiet, but only until you get to know her, and she’s likely to surprise you with a snowball or two if you’re not watching carefully! Loved daughter? Proud sister? Strong Christian? Honor Roll Student? Responsible babysitter? Good friend? Yes, but there’s more to her story… Delving deeper, I do know that the love and connections I have with family, friends, and faith are my grounding foundations. I love God and connecting with the people around me in the neighborhoods, schools, and communities of my childhood - have always held an important role shaping my life. I’ve always sought to serve and contribute where I can, albeit often in little - yet always well-intentioned and well-meaning - ways, and I’ve learned that I’m the person who has benefited most from these efforts. One of my favorite volunteering roles has been as an after-school classroom assistant and now co-teacher, for the recreational classes at the local elementary school where my mom teaches. Girls’ Club, Boys’ Club, Games Galore, Crafty Creations, Slime Time Science. . . over the last eight years, we seem to have taught a bit of everything. I love being able to help plan and provide programming that keeps kids engaged, learning, and - perhaps most importantly - having lots of fun! I’ve also greatly enjoyed serving at church. Although I originally started volunteering as a children’s ministry worker in my little sister's toddler room, I’ve since spent time in many other classrooms! I’ve especially enjoyed working with kids in the special needs ministry and I’ve found great satisfaction in helping little ones maximize learning in his/her own special ways (These “little friends” have taught me a great lesson; it’s never one’s disabilities, but rather one’s abilities, that truly matter in life!). There have been lots of other “helping opportunities” that I’ve been privileged enough to have participated in throughout my high school years. . . coaching after school mini-camp twirlers, helping with food drives, being a buddy for kids with special needs, volunteer babysitter for a single working mom, helping neighbors both young and old. . . the list is long. Helping others is more a way of life in my family - embedded throughout our days, weeks, months, and years - rather than single isolated events. While, initially, I sought simply to make a positive impact in my community, these experiences have enriched my own life in unexpected ways. They’ve fostered a sense of purpose and meaning, inside of me, that has even steered me towards my future career serving others as a nurse! I’m hopeful that you will consider me for the Larry R. Jones Volunteer For Life Scholarship, to help enable my exciting journey! Mr. Jones was known for working tirelessly to help others and his empathy, compassion, dedication, and strong sense of altruism shone through in his interactions with others. I, too, try hard to embody these character traits by prioritizing the well-being of others and I also feel a strong “need” to make a positive impact in my community. Like Mr. Jones, I possess the potential to positively touch lives in unheralded ways!

Humanity is shaped by our experiences and our environment. Today I am a hardworking, compassionate, and positive person because of my upbringing and experiences along the way. From a young age, I witnessed my parents live with compassion at the forefront of their minds and as a result, I grew up inspired to live a compassionate life as well. When I began to attend York Catholic and was required to have 16 hours of volunteering I was concerned if I could meet these expectations; however, I quickly surpassed this number and fell in love with volunteering. I find peace in helping others and comfort in knowing that I am making a difference. While my service to the community feels simple, it creates an enormous difference when the people I help smile or laugh. My favorite place to volunteer is at the Catholic Harvest Food Pantry. Here I can connect with families and people who may not be as fortunate as me but have so much to give. They teach me the importance of family and friends and show me that love can overcome all odds. I distribute food and necessities, take phone calls, and help clean and restock the food pantry. Not only has it made me grateful for my many blessings and privileges, but I also have developed a growing concern about the welfare of others. Connecting with these families and supplying them with necessities is just one service that I provide to my community. For the past two years, I have been given the opportunity to mentor cheerleaders in grade-school. They are silly, energetic, and always know how to make me laugh. I remember the days when I was in elementary school and grew as a person because of my cheerleading coaches and I am grateful that I get to return the favor to these sweet girls. I teach them cheers and stunts, attend their games, and have become their biggest cheerleader. I love knowing that I am making a positive impact in their lives. I also find opportunities to serve my church community. During Lent on Fridays, I volunteer at the fish fry, and by bussing tables, greeting people at the entrance, and serving people their meals I help my community connect. Another source of service through the church is decorating the church for Christmas and then taking down the decorations once the Christmas season is over. The church and the members of the church have benefited from my acts of service as I've helped raise money, taken on duties of other members to help them prioritize more pressing matters, and enhanced the quality of the atmosphere to reflect how Christmas is a season of love, hope, and peace. By volunteering at my church I have strengthened our community in helping draw everyone together. Lastly, a service opportunity that lies dear in my heart is the Special Olympics competition. I have become passionate about supporting children with autism, down-syndrome, or other impairments after spending a summer with my cousin who has autistic needs. At the Special Olympics my friends and I watched and cheered on all of the competitors and gave them good luck cards before they competed. This gave the children so much confidence and allowed them to experience joy and excitement. Our efforts may seem minuscule, but had a lasting impact on the lives we touched. Volunteering allows for personal growth and development, but more importantly it gives people comfort and peace in knowing that there is light amidst all hardships. My volunteering has uplifted the community and inspired others to volunteer too.

Dr. Riley Bell, Neonatologist, is a sign I one day hope to see! I am a student athlete who has always been committed to my education. I have a 3.9 GPA, taking honors and AP courses. I am a three sport athlete, having run cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track throughout most of my high school career. I am involved in numerous clubs in school as well, including National Honor Society, Varsity club, Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Sociey, and the French Honor Society. I work part-time at a local restaurant, usually 10 to 15 hours per week. Out of all of my accomplishments, my greatest accomplishment and experience throughout high school has to be my involvement in my community and focus on community service. My desire to help my community began at a very young age through my Daisy girl scout troop. We would help at the senior center, collect food for the local food bank, put care packages together for the homeless in our community, collect clothing donations for Rachel's closet at our middle school, and assist at the church where we held meetings by volunteering at the turkey supper and helping make quilts with the church ladies. This exposure at a young age only spurred my interest in wanting to help my community. I felt a great sense of pride and accomplishment helping others. While I remained a girl scout into middle school, I found different ways to help my community at the start of high school. Starting my freshman year of high school, I began to volunteer twice a year at the Healthy Kids Running Series races near my home. I had run this race series when I was younger and wanted to continue my running while showing others the sport I love so much! As a volunteer, I would help the children stretch before the race and served as an anchor at the back of the runners to help encourage the children to keep moving and complete the race. I loved running with them and supporting them in any way possible. It felt great to have parents tell me they were so happy I could run with their child and keep them engaged to do their best. This was just the start of many other volunteer opportunities during high school. Joining many school organizations has allowed me to futher my service to others. I have helped clean up the school with my cross country team, raised money to donate books to read to children at our district elementary school, helped run the intermediate school track meets, and ushered at the school musical as just a few examples. This meaningful work continues during my senior year with my club involvement. During the summer before my senior year, I started volunteering at my local hospital in the pediatric department. After shadowing in the NICU and solidifying my love for children and medicine, I wanted to donate my time to help pediatric patients. I volunteer every Sunday morning for 4 hours helping organize rooms, sanitize toys, and most importantly, playing with the children. It is so rewarding to be able to provide joy to these children while they are hospitalized, evidenced by the smiles on their faces! Volunteering has always been a large part of my life and I am only expecting this servitude to continue throughout college and in my future career as a Neonatologist.