Community Service Contest 2013 Winners Announced

Thank you to all students who submitted CCS 2013 applications and have given and continue to give so much back their communities. We received a large number of impressive applications that made selecting the winners very difficult.  The three winning students chosen demonstrated a true dedication to community service:

Sofiya Tumska (Ukraine/Germany): 

Sofiya impressed our judges with the initiative and career development she demonstrated in her community service projects.  She divided her time volunteering at Harrison Memorial Hospital and serving in Teen Court.  At the hospital, Sofiya went through their archives, gathered historic and current information and compiled a scrapbook chronicling the changes and growth of the hospital. She also put together informational packets for women’s health seminars and Relay for Life events and spear headed a March of Dimes fundraising project selling sweet bouquets for Valentine’s Day. 

Sofiya is an aspiring legal professional and was chosen to participate in the highly selective Teen Court Program made up of student volunteers.  She completed an intensive training session in courtroom roles such as prosecutor, defense attorney, court clerk, bailiff and juror. Teen Court Coordinator, Mr. Powers praised Sofiya for her eagerness to serve as an advocate especially in the most challenging role as attorney. Her community service has truly influenced her career path and she will carry the experience for the rest of her life.

Nesrine Mbarek (Tunisia): 

Nesrine demonstrated her passion for politics and health care throughout her community service.  She volunteered with “Mi Familia Vota”, a national organization that unites the Latino community and its allies to promote social and economic justice through increased civic participation.  Nesrine went door to door helping voters visualize the voting process, handing out commitment cards, and offering free lunch to participating families.  During this experience she had the privilege of meeting a Texas State Representative candidate who highlighted the importance of “pursuing one’s dream”. 

Furthermore, Nesrine is an active member of the Student Government Association and Global Citizen Corps, a club that mobilizes young leader to take action in their communities.  Nesrine fully immersed herself in the US electoral process, learning about the impact of voter abstention and hopes to implement similar laws and regulations of a western democracy to her home country one day.  Additionally, Nesrine committed 81 hours as a clinical assistant to the school nurse, triaging patients based on chief complaints and acting as an Arabic translator. She also spent time fundraising for the Red Cross and volunteering for blood drives.

Nayab Mir (Pakistan): 

Nayab served her community with great variety and magnitude. She worked with educational, church, hospital, differently-abled and environmental projects.  Nayab devoted two hours daily after school tutoring rural students in the Next Step Program.  Her students ranged from kindergarteners to pregnant teens.  She devoted weekends to judging speech tournaments at her high school.  Nayab also passionately served as an ambassador for her Muslim faith and Pakistani culture by giving presentations about her country to breakdown stereotypes and misconceptions. 

At the Celebration of Nations event she applied traditional henna tattoos to all participants. Nayab served the local Baptist church helping at the Halloween event and preparing Thanksgiving dinner.  She showed great compassion and support for those grieving when serving the County Health Unit in a memorial service event.  Lastly Nayab socialized with and sang songs to handicapped people and planted trees for 12 hours in her neighborhood.  Through this work she learned that serving the community brings change.  Now she is eager to bring change to her home country through volunteerism.