Fifty-eight students ranging from elementary age to high schoolers were honored May 7 for their positive contributions to the community and helpfulness to others during the Oxford-Addison Youth Assistance (OAYA) Annual Youth Recognition Ceremony held in the middle school commons.
Youth Assistance singled out these kids for their good deeds, compassionate acts, volunteer spirit, positive attitudes and overall selflessness.
Here are some examples:
Siblings Gage, Tate and Liam Hamilton are regular volunteers with the Community Free Meals program at the Oxford United Methodist Church. From setup to cleanup and everything in between, the Hamilton kids can always be relied upon to do whatever they can to help ensure community members in need receive hot, nutritious meals on a regular basis.
Wyatt Ashley, Owen Benear, Liam Zelenock, Elijah Zelenock and Jack McFarlin raised awareness about world hunger and in turn, helped raise money to send goats to needy families in Africa.
Brianna Kreft, Cassandra Kreft, Hunter Taylor and Steven Taylor volunteer their time with the O.A.T.S. (Offering Alternative Therapy with Smiles) program in Clarkston, which promotes the health, well-being and happiness of disabled individuals through horseback riding and related activities.
Dominic Todd befriended a cognitively-disabled child in his classroom. He helps him with assignments, provides encouragement and has become a role model for other students when it comes to how to treat people with disabilities.
Jayshawn Cook is a polite, positive and consistently helpful presence at Daniel Axford Elementary, who does everything from running school errands to aiding his peers. He was described as ‘a quiet leader who is always ready to be a friend in time of need.?
Kayla Gysel and Madison Houck are members of the safety patrol at Leonard Elementary. They gave up her recess time to make blankets for hospitalized children as part of Project Linus.
Riley Franz helped a classmate at Leonard Elementary who was struggling in math improve her understanding of the subject as well as raise her test scores. She also created and gave a presentation explaining the harmful effects of cigarette smoking on both smokers and non-smokers alike.
Other OAYA honorees included Mateo Anderson, Josiah Ashman, Jeremy Bacon, Lily Binkley, Caleb Boomer, Jacob Burr, Nathan Curtis, Peyton Feltrin, Allana Findlay, Christa Hull, Teagen Lepping, Cade Liverance, Ryan Lundy, Tobey Martin, Macie McDevitt, Madison McLaughlin, Lauren Methner, Brennan Mielnicki, Matthew Mullins, Nathan Mullins, Sydney Oke, Sebastian Pace, Madelyn Pace, Dylan Powers, Kacey Raab, Luke Rauh, Matthew Shinavier, Jacob Tapert, Luke Vedrody, Peyton Warren, Elijah Welch, Rachel Wozniak, Hunter Zanin, Gianna Cantini, Joseph Cusumano, Julian Gonczar, Ciaran Grabowski, Olivia Guy, Imani Tenorio-Pindter, Luke Rauh and Cali Schnur.
Congratulations to all the honorees and thank you for making the Oxford/Addison area a better place.