SALISBURY — Scores of young people were recognized for their efforts to make a difference in the community at the Service Above Self Awards ceremony recently in Keppel Auditorium.

The awards are sponsored by the Rowan Rotary Club, United Way of Rowan, Cheerwine, and Catawba College.

Winners of the Service Above Self awards were:

Individual winners K-5

Winner – Aidan Melton – Sacred Heart Elementary – After donating $5 to Rowan Helping Ministries, Aidan continued to give back by working and using social media to collect pillows, blankets, towels, socks and toiletry items for Rowan Helping Ministries and Family Crisis Council. He collected for Toys for Tots as well.

First Runner-Up – Autumn Yount – West Rowan Elementary – Autumn took up volunteer projects with Girl Scout Troop 3155. She served food at Rowan Helping Ministries, made toys and prepared food for the animal shelter, and put together care packages for the Battered Women’s Shelter. She also made bracelets to sell for St. Jude’s and pillows for mastectomy patients.

Second Runner-Up – Jacob Thurston – Woodleaf Elementary – Jacob served his church as an acolyte and helped to prepare for special events by pressure washing doors, windows, sidewalks and cleaning up fallen limbs and debris. He also helped purchase gifts, shoes, clothing and a toy for a child in need in McDowell County, West Virginia.

Middle school individual winners

Winner – Canyon Henning – Erwin Middle – Canyon has dedicated his time and energy as a tutor to make a difference to Happy’s Farm, a nonprofit organization that provides tutoring services for children and veterans. He helped with all fundraising and volunteered as a staff member to help children with special needs. He also aided in raising flags in the Veteran’s Garden and helped with concessions for two Autumn Jubilee events at Dan Nicholas Park.

First Runner-Up – Layton Barber – Kannapolis Charter Academy – With Boy Scout Troop 443 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Layton was den chief to Cub Scout Pack 306 and attended pack meetings, camping trips, and prepared classes to mentor. He also helped in the Wounded Warrior and Gold Star families at the Thomasville Memorial Day activities and volunteered to beautify the local veteran’s cemetery.

Second Runner-Up – John Robbins – West Rowan Middle – John receives medical and prosthetic services from Shriners Hospital. To give back, he collected can tabs to raise money for the Shriners. He also packed Valentine’s cards and boxes that were to be sent to the NC Veterans Home with his Boy Scout Troop. With his church, The Arbor United Methodist, he packed Christmas goody bags for members and shut-ins.

High school individual winners

Winner – Allen Hicks – North Rowan High – Allen volunteered at Happy’s Farm, working at the nonprofit’s summer camp and creating a nature center for children at the farm. He also serves as a counselor for the after-school program and has assisted with Happy’s Farm First Cross Categorized Adapted Curriculum Rodeo, which allows special-needs students to engage in special activities.

First Runner-Up – Kaylan Adams – West Rowan High – Through the JROTC program, Kaylan provided many volunteer services, such as helping with parking and escorting disabled students during the Special Olympics, participating in the Cleveland Christmas Parade and assisting in the Service Learning Project. This involved traveling to Fayetteville, Fort Fisher, and Southport  to conduct community services.

Second Runner-Up – Isaiah Woods – Salisbury High – For his school, Isaiah volunteered to film football games and became a member of the Impact Club. He posted positive messages on sticky notes to every faculty door and outside of school; he worked in the Food Pantry at Rowan Helping Ministries. He also spent time cleaning at the Rowan Public Library and tutoring at Rowan Literacy Council.

K-5 Group winners

Winner – Sacred Heart Elementary Student Council – Students led fundraising initiatives such as Dress-Down Days, sang carols at the Veteran’s Hospital, established prayer pals at Genesis Healthcare and packed food baskets for those less fortunate during Thanksgiving and Christmas. They also collected clothes to benefit the victims of Hurricane Florence at sister schools in Wilmington and in Crosby, Texas.

First Runner-Up – Cub Scout Pack 306 – These scouts helped throughout the Scouting for Food Drive process and they did yard cleanup for a scout who had a parent battling cancer. They offered to rake, mow, rebuild flower beds, and made a special pack-signed planter for the wife. They participated in every parade, flag and wreath ceremony at the National Cemetery as well.

Second Runner-Up – Mrs. Peay’s 4^th Grade Class – This class came up with the idea to do community service projects individually. These projects included collecting trash at local parks, donating toys to Levine’s Children’s Hospital, and repairing bicycles to give to children who do not have one. They also held a fundraiser for the animal shelter, which involved giving proceeds from selling handmade goods at a local fall festival.

 

Middle school group winners  

Winner – Sacred Heart Middle Student Council – This group helped organize and implement Dress-Down Days, which raised money for local and national organizations and charities. During Catholic Schools Week, they also collected crayons, toys, clothes and toiletries to benefit organizations that help the less fortunate. In addition, they served as altar servers for Wednesday evening, Saturday morning and Sunday morning masses.

First Runner-Up – Southeast Middle Connect-Ed Interpreters – These bilingual student volunteers translated and recorded announcements each week. Thanks to their skill, Spanish-speaking families were able to receive updates on school events, deadlines and opportunities.

Second Runner-Up – Girl Scout Troop 670 – The members of this troop helped at their church by planting flowers and vegetables in the church community garden. Each Arbor Day, they help clean, set out trees and prepare the grounds for summer. They also helped assemble backpacks for Cleveland Elementary School and put out flags at the National Cemetery.

 

High school group winners

Winner – Salisbury High Open Charity Tournament – Roarke Burton and Blake Clark – These seniors hosted a tennis tournament to benefit the Salisbury High Tennis team, Overton Elementary School Student Council and Hemby Children’s Hospital. They accomplished this through a proposal to the Booster Club, a website they created, a Gmail account and a brochure and flier that they developed. They worked hard to set up sponsors and provide trophies as well.

First Runner-Up – Salisbury VA Medical Center Youth Volunteer Summer Program – The group gave their efforts to W.G. Hefner Healthcare System by working in the transportation section. They also delivered mail and packages throughout the facility and created a program that allowed veterans to document and share their life experiences. Additionally, they helped the National Wheelchair Team prepare for the National Games and organized a 4^th of July day-of-giving event to honor veterans.

Second Runner-Up – Shiloh Reformed Church of Faith High School Mission Team – This youth group served their church and community by performing yard work for the sick, collecting canned food for Rowan Helping Ministries, packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child and serving food for Mission Meals. They also took a trip to Elizabeth City to help at numerous sites. At these locations, they helped in various projects including painting and building decks.

 

Catawba scholarship winners

• Middle school winner: Canyon Henning, Erwin Middle School

 

• High school winner: Allen Hicks, North Rowan High

• High school first runner-up: Kaylan Adams, West Rowan High

• High school second runner-up: Isaiah Woods

School winners: 

K-5 – West Rowan Elementary School

Middle School – Southeast Middle School

High School  – Salisbury High School

 

Student winners in each division received a medal and a Visa Gift Card, as well as a check for the school or organization that nominated them, worth half of their award. The awards were $250 for first place, $100 for first runner up and $50 for second runner-up.

Group award winners received contributions of $50 to $500 for their organizations.

The Catawba College Men’s and Women’s Golf Teams and their coach, Sam Gealy, helped with the judging.

The Service Above Self Committee includes Miriam Basso, Dr. Jerry Chandler, Wilson Cherry, Dr. Jim Duncan, Rita Foil, Seth Waller and Gloria Wilhelm.