Monday's presentation of President's Volunteer Service Awards came with a heightened sense of school pride.
Why not in light of recent events?
Greenies of all ages aided Western North Carolina in its time of greatest need, back in September and October when every good deed was needed to jumpstart the recovery from Hurricane Helene. This outpouring by the boys, our alumni, families, and friends all melded into what is a year-round commitment to service here, disaster or no disaster.
Director of Service Learning Olga Mahoney P’20 and Dean of Academics Emily Pulsifer P’15, P’17 handed out President's Volunteer Service Award certificates to the following 13 students in assembly:
Grey Edens ’25 (304 hours, gold), Easton Hoffert ’26 (180 hours, silver), Jack West ‘25 (177 hours, silver), Henry Chapman ’25 (160 hours, bronze), Carter Fitzgerald ’25 (153 hours, bronze), Lansing Lewis ’26 (116 hours, bronze), Tomas Tracy ’27 (116 hours, gold), John Barton ’25 (110 hours, bronze), Sam Farago ’26 (110 hours, bronze), Serg Kitt ’25 (100 hours, bronze), Elliott Stay ’27 (100 hours, gold), Owen Beardsley ’27 (84 hours, silver), and Hoge Reynolds ‘27 (50 hours, bronze).
The President’s Volunteer Service Award was established in 2003 by the executive order of George W. Bush and has carried on with other administrations. The program seeks to honor “individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too.”
Students must be American citizens to be eligible for a President’s Volunteer Service Award. This was especially notable Monday as Mrs. Mahoney commended one Greenie in particular, Abdullah Al ledan ’25 of Iraq, for admirably having done the hundreds of hours necessary for recognition.