Citizens of the Week: Northwest High's service learning class

Dalton Daily Citizen

May 02, 2008 11:05 pm

— Think today’s teens are too wrapped up in themselves and their worlds to notice what is going on around them, or even care if they can have an impact? If the 42 kids in Martha Jo Cook’s Northwest High service learning class have anything to do with it, that belief will get a swift kick out the door.
Like high schoolers everywhere, they spend a lot of time chattering about prom, graduation and who’s dating who. But in the midst of all that, they’ve also managed to collectively donate more than 4,400 documented service hours doing various volunteer activities in the community. All are involved in the Buddy program through Big Brothers Big Sisters and they also serve as Reading Buddies one day a week at Pleasant Grove Elementary School.
And it doesn’t stop there.
They also volunteer at Friendship House, Wooddale and Ridgewood Manor nursing homes, Cross Plains, Oak Haven, Whitfield Commons, Whitfield Place, Meals on Wheels and the Salvation Army.
For their efforts, approximately 20 of the students received Presidential Volunteer Service Awards at the United Way — Kiwanis Youth Volunteer Banquet recently at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center. The second semester class will receive their awards at an upcoming Honors Night. The award is issued by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.
Because of their eagerness to help others, The Daily Citizen names the members of the Northwest High’s service learning class Citizens of the Week.