STARKVILLE — Holly Travis already has made more of a difference in the lives of Starkville residents than most of her peers.
And she”s only just beginning.
Wearing a bright smile and exhibiting a cool composure that did nothing to hide her enthusiasm, Travis, 14, sat in the library of Armstrong Middle School in Starkville last week and spoke of meeting former First Lady Laura Bush.
“It was quite an honor,” she said of her trip to Washington, D.C. “It was a wonderful experience. The only nervous part about it was I was scared I would trip and fall when I was walking across the stage to meet her.”
Travis is one of two Mississippi students honored, May 5 in the nation”s capitol, for outstanding volunteer work, during the presentation of the 2009 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.
The two Mississippi students — Holley Cunningham, 16, of Pascagoula, also was honored — joined 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country in receiving $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from Bush at the 14th annual award ceremony and gala dinner reception, held at the Smithsonian Institute”s National Museum of Natural History.
The students also received engraved silver medallions and an all-expenses-paid trip with their parents to Washington, D.C., for the recognition events.
“The young people receiving these awards genuinely care about making a difference in the lives of others and have accomplished so much, in their own communities and around the world,” said Bush. “I thank and congratulate them for their outstanding volunteer work. Students with this kind of commitment and leadership ability are essential to the future of our nation.”
“It was kind of overwhelming at first,” Travis said of receiving the award for which she was “quite surprised” to be named. “But it was great. We had a great time in Washington.
“Some of the other honorees, their projects inspired me and showed me I can do something more,” she added, referring to the other students she met during the recognition events. “I am talking to at least one or two of my (new) friends from there every day. I made friends, best friends from there.”
An eighth-grader at Armstrong Middle School, Travis, the president of her school”s Builder Club, helped develop an adopt-a-grandparent program at The Carrington nursing home in Starkville.
She leads her club on monthly visits to the nursing home to play bingo, make arts and crafts, sing and read with the residents.
Listing her service at the nursing home as among her favorite activities, Travis explained why she enjoys her visits.
“(I like to) listen to stories of the residents there and hear about their life,” she said. “Some of them are lonely.”
Additionally, Travis volunteers with her church, has mentored children at a sports camp, worked on Habitat for Humanity construction sites and plans service projects as secretary of her school”s student council.
Through her volunteerism, she”s learned “even the smallest of things make a difference.”
“It”s knowing I”ve made a difference in somebody”s life and I”m not just settling for being another girl,” she said of her motivation to volunteer. “I”m making a difference. (And) my whole life I”ve wanted to do that.
“Once you do it, it gets to a point where you can”t stop,” she continued. “Even though you”re giving up your time, it”s worth it once you see the smile on the other person”s face, after you”ve completed your service. It makes it all worthwhile. It shows the community that you really care and you”re willing to go out of your zone and reach out to them.”
The daughter of Cynthia and Rickey Travis, Holly Travis next will attend Starkville High School, where she hopes to continue her volunteerism through the Key Club, which is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.
Not yet sure what career she will pursue, she knows she”ll make some kind of an impact.
“Whatever it is, I want it to be me reaching out to people, serving God and making a difference in people”s lives,” she explained. “I don”t want it to be something simple; I want to do something big, shake the world up a little!”
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards constitutes the nation”s largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service.
Nearly 20,000 youth submitted applications for the 2009 awards program; the top middle level and high school applicants were selected in February.
Created in 1995 by Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the program has honored nearly 90,000 young Americans over the past 14 years at the local, state and national level for outstanding acts of volunteerism.
“The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is a fabulous partnership between NASSP and Prudential, allowing us to recognize the outstanding young people in our schools and communities,” said association President Larry Bradley. “This year”s honorees exemplify the true spirit of helping others and by doing so they give America and the world a promising future, a future filled with compassion and hope.”
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are supported by the American Association of School Administrators, the National Middle School Association, the National School Boards Association, the Council of the Great City Schools, Girl Scouts of the USA, National 4-H Council, the American Red Cross, YMCA of the USA, the Points of Light Institute and other national education and service organizations.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
