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Students Honored For Volunteering
By JOSELYN KING
POSTED: May 3, 2008
While some local youth listened to iPods, played video games, text-messaged friends and shopped, others slipped in some time to help others.
Six student volunteers from Ohio County high schools were recognized Friday by The Junior League of Wheeling, Sustainers and The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register for their efforts in the community.
The six students — all current high school juniors — combined gave a grand total of 1,714 hours to local organizations.
? Eric Knuth, a student at Wheeling Central Catholic High School, put in 292 hours while working as a volunteer at Ohio Valley Medical Center in the physical therapy unit.
“In his essay, Eric stated that he began volunteering for credit hours,” said Sherry Hennen, Sustainer high school volunteer chairwoman. “But once he realized how much the patients appreciated his help taking them back to their rooms at first — and then later helping with their actual exercises and walking — it became extremely rewarding.
“Eric feels volunteering changed his life and attitude toward others.”
? John Railing, also a student at Wheeling Central, volunteered 76 hours with Catholic Charities 18th Street Center and making Meals on Wheels deliveries.
Hennen said Railing wrote in his essay that he was at first uncomfortable and shy delivering the meals, and that he felt like “an unwanted guest” at first. But one woman seemed particularly lonely, he wrote, and he started to talk to her.
“When we began to talk, I realized I was really appreciated,” Railing said. “She and I really bonded through shared experiences.
“It was no longer about delivering her lunch, but about two lonely people finding an understanding in each other.”
? Ariel Pollock of The Linsly School volunteered a total of 314.5 hours with the Wheeling Symphony, the operating room at Wheeling Hospital, Catholic Charities and the Temple Shalom Religious School.
“Volunteering isn’t simply a way to gain hours for a college resume — rather it is an experience that can both help the community and allow one to develop as a person,” she wrote. “I felt that because I teach young children, I have learned valuable skills needed throughout life — such as patience, perspective and determination.”
? Netanya Pollock of The Linsly School, the identical twin sister of Ariel Pollock, also volunteered 314.5 hours with the Wheeling Symphony, the operating room at Wheeling Hospital, Catholic Charities and the Temple Shalom Religious School — “making it a sisterly shared volunteering experience,” Hennen said.
Netanya Pollock wrote that she enjoys teaching young people “and introducing fun ways of learning.”
“I feel that by teaching at the religious school, I am able to add to my Jewish experience as well,” she said. “I like knowing I am helping my community by educating the young kids who will one day grow up to be leaders of our community.”
? Jennifer Bosley of Wheeling Park High School volunteered a total of 488 hours at West Liberty Christian Church and at the Royal Family Kids Camp — a camp for abused and neglected children in the foster care system.
She wrote in her essay she is able to help the youths there largely because of her experience of once being a child at the camp herself.
“They learned that I was in similar situations as them, and they learned that I was a camper as they are now,” Bosley said. “After they heard me talk, just about every camper came up to me and wanted to talk about their life.
“I hope I helped them know that there is a way to take any situation and make it better.”
? Mary Hvizdos of Wheeling Park High School gave 229 hours to the Vance Church Youth Group, Catholic Charities and as a junior volunteer at Wheeling Hospital doing child care. She wrote that “one of the most remarkable” youth group activities she took part in took place in Welch, W.Va., last summer.
“The statistics for this area of the state are alarming — the highest rate of poverty and teen pregnancy and the highest level of illiteracy in the nation,” Hvizdos said. “We arrived in Welch prepared to tackle home and yard repair work. We left Welch feeling fortunate for all the things we take for granted on a daily basis.
“We also left feeling a deep sense of gratitude to the families who welcomed us so graciously into their homes and lives.”
J. Michael Myer, executive editor of The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, noted that voluntarism is strong among high school students, but often the spirit tails off during their college years.
“Make some time to keep up the good work,” he told the students.
Six student volunteers from Ohio County high schools were recognized Friday by The Junior League of Wheeling, Sustainers and The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register for their efforts in the community.
The six students — all current high school juniors — combined gave a grand total of 1,714 hours to local organizations.
? Eric Knuth, a student at Wheeling Central Catholic High School, put in 292 hours while working as a volunteer at Ohio Valley Medical Center in the physical therapy unit.
“In his essay, Eric stated that he began volunteering for credit hours,” said Sherry Hennen, Sustainer high school volunteer chairwoman. “But once he realized how much the patients appreciated his help taking them back to their rooms at first — and then later helping with their actual exercises and walking — it became extremely rewarding.
“Eric feels volunteering changed his life and attitude toward others.”
? John Railing, also a student at Wheeling Central, volunteered 76 hours with Catholic Charities 18th Street Center and making Meals on Wheels deliveries.
Hennen said Railing wrote in his essay that he was at first uncomfortable and shy delivering the meals, and that he felt like “an unwanted guest” at first. But one woman seemed particularly lonely, he wrote, and he started to talk to her.
“When we began to talk, I realized I was really appreciated,” Railing said. “She and I really bonded through shared experiences.
“It was no longer about delivering her lunch, but about two lonely people finding an understanding in each other.”
? Ariel Pollock of The Linsly School volunteered a total of 314.5 hours with the Wheeling Symphony, the operating room at Wheeling Hospital, Catholic Charities and the Temple Shalom Religious School.
“Volunteering isn’t simply a way to gain hours for a college resume — rather it is an experience that can both help the community and allow one to develop as a person,” she wrote. “I felt that because I teach young children, I have learned valuable skills needed throughout life — such as patience, perspective and determination.”
? Netanya Pollock of The Linsly School, the identical twin sister of Ariel Pollock, also volunteered 314.5 hours with the Wheeling Symphony, the operating room at Wheeling Hospital, Catholic Charities and the Temple Shalom Religious School — “making it a sisterly shared volunteering experience,” Hennen said.
Netanya Pollock wrote that she enjoys teaching young people “and introducing fun ways of learning.”
“I feel that by teaching at the religious school, I am able to add to my Jewish experience as well,” she said. “I like knowing I am helping my community by educating the young kids who will one day grow up to be leaders of our community.”
? Jennifer Bosley of Wheeling Park High School volunteered a total of 488 hours at West Liberty Christian Church and at the Royal Family Kids Camp — a camp for abused and neglected children in the foster care system.
She wrote in her essay she is able to help the youths there largely because of her experience of once being a child at the camp herself.
“They learned that I was in similar situations as them, and they learned that I was a camper as they are now,” Bosley said. “After they heard me talk, just about every camper came up to me and wanted to talk about their life.
“I hope I helped them know that there is a way to take any situation and make it better.”
? Mary Hvizdos of Wheeling Park High School gave 229 hours to the Vance Church Youth Group, Catholic Charities and as a junior volunteer at Wheeling Hospital doing child care. She wrote that “one of the most remarkable” youth group activities she took part in took place in Welch, W.Va., last summer.
“The statistics for this area of the state are alarming — the highest rate of poverty and teen pregnancy and the highest level of illiteracy in the nation,” Hvizdos said. “We arrived in Welch prepared to tackle home and yard repair work. We left Welch feeling fortunate for all the things we take for granted on a daily basis.
“We also left feeling a deep sense of gratitude to the families who welcomed us so graciously into their homes and lives.”
J. Michael Myer, executive editor of The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, noted that voluntarism is strong among high school students, but often the spirit tails off during their college years.
“Make some time to keep up the good work,” he told the students.
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