JUNCTION CITY, Kan. – Inviting students to roll up their sleeves and get involved in community improvement projects can help to get the work done, but doing so also may plant a seed for a lifelong commitment to community service.
“Civic responsibility is learned, and age needn't be a factor when it comes to taking pride in a job well done,” said Dan Kahl, Kansas State University Research and Extension Kansas PRIDE Program coordinator.
While the Kansas' PRIDE Program is known for assisting cities and towns of varying populations in building successful volunteer-driven community improvement and economic development organizations, to achieve sustainability such volunteer efforts need to draw from a diverse population base, with youth and adults working together, Kahl said.
Each of the students selected to receive 2008-2009 PRIDE Community Service or Youth Leadership Awards at Kansas PRIDE Day recently has been willing to use his or her time and talents to improve their community, he said.
Students often become involved through local PRIDE youth volunteer or school groups or, in the case of this year's top award winner, through their parents' efforts to improve community.
Melissa Jansen, from Stafford, Kan., started attending local Kansas PRIDE meetings with her mother when she was about eight years old, said Jennifer Pfortmiller, a Stafford PRIDE volunteer who nominated Jansen for the award.
Jansen has grown into a leadership role among local PRIDE volunteers, and has worked with the PRIDE “Get-It - Do-It!” grant program to seek funding to introduce "Get Moving," a fitness program. And, while nominators noted that she often is a quiet, introspective leader, Jansen also is credited with developing a T-shirt screen printing service for the community via a school economic and entrepreneur development program.
Jansen previously earned a Stafford PRIDE Youth of the Month Award, Pfortmiller said.
As the top PRIDE youth award recipient, Jansen earned a commemorative plaque and a check for $350 to be applied to future PRIDE community improvements.
In addition to Jansen, others earning 2008-2009 PRIDE Community Service Awards were:
* Kayla Field is from Almena, (pop. 469), which is located in Norton County in northwest Kansas. Field has a full load of school activities, including 4-H and FFA, but also has dedicated time to community cleanups, delivering cookies to shut-ins, church activities, baby-sitting during parent-teacher conferences and helped to raise $500 toward a new community building.
* Karissa Pankratz is from Argonia, pop.534, which is located in Sumner County in south central Kansas. Pankratz is active in the Kansas Association for Youth, and, through that program, became involved in a recycling project and fund raising for UNICEF. She also has helped to host five blood drives, delivered meals on wheels and mentored a fifth grader.
* Shannon Orth is from Bushton, pop. 314, which is located in Rice County in central Kansas. In investing more than 80 hours in her community, Orth helped raise funds for playground equipment and once the money was raised, helped install the equipment. She's also mowed lawns for those who no longer can and helps to keep the community clean with regular trash pickups.
* Megan Schoendaler is from Grinnell, pop. 329, which is located in Gove County in northwest Kansas. Schoendaler is active in school, church and community groups, including the local YOUTH PRIDE organization, and is a ready volunteer, willing to work a concession stand or help with a community cleanup. Nominators cited her willingness to help older adults, often by watering their gardens, shoveling snow or helping to care for their pets. As a high school student, Schoendaler is attending the Kansas Youth Leadership Academy at Fort Hays State University.
* Mykel Seirer is from Lucas, pop. 436, which is located in Russell County in central Kansas. Seirer, who credits growing up in a small town with making it easy to volunteer, acknowledges that in a small town, people may be more aware of needs. He earned high marks in academics and for school activities (ranging from sports to music) and is a perennial volunteer. Nominators credited his energy, visibility and positive attitude as a model for youth in the community, but Seirer, who particularly enjoyed serving as the projectionist for the community theater, said that the real satisfaction in helping others "is seeing their smile when a job is done."
Chris Davenport of Fort Scott (Bourbon County) earned an honorable mention for a PRIDE Community Service Award. As an eighth grader, Davenport assisted with 20 of 23 PRIDE local projects, ranging from a Halloween parade and pumpkin carving to a benefit soup line.
Award recipients each received a commemorative plaque; those earning honorable mention earned a certificate, all of which were sponsored by Casey's General Store.
PRIDE Youth Leadership Award Winners
A second category of awards -- the PRIDE Youth Leadership Award -- is given in recognition of youth leadership for a single issue, idea or project, said Trudy Rice, community liaison for the Kansas PRIDE program. Earning the award during the 2008-2009 project year are:
* Melody Dickman, is from Grinnell, pop. 329, which is located in Gove County in northwest Kansas, has taken a leadership role in organizing the community's annual Easter Egg Hunt. Dickman also was cited for using her leadership skills to motivate others and keep them on track.
* Brennan McNickle, is from Stafford, pop.1,161, which is located in Stafford County in south central Kansas. Nominators describe McNickle as an "idea person," but also as someone who can follow through with planning and organization to bring ideas to life. While working with an after-school program twice a week last year, he helped 25 students learn about rocketry -- and the benefits of after-school programs.
Tia Dougherty and Hannah Hawks earned honorable mention certificates for the youth awards.
Dougherty, who is from Lucas, pop. 436, in Russell County (central Kansas), is active in school and community groups. Award judges complemented her on planning and implementing youth activities as part of an annual community festival.
Hawks, who is from Almena, pop. 469, located in Norton County in northwest Kansas, is a member of her high school Jr. PRIDE group. She is active in school and community activities, and led efforts to produce a brochure to promote the community.
More information on youth opportunities in community development is from, go to www.kansasprideprogram.ksu.edu or contact Dan Kahl or Trudy Rice at 785-532-5840.
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