Chatham Student Honored for Volunteer Efforts

senior Gianna Strand was recently honored for her numerous hours volunteering with the President's Volunteer Service Award.

Strand is the president of Chatham High's Key Club, a position she has held for over a year.

"I was very honored to receive that award," Strand said. "I got a scholarship ... and a certificate and a letter from the President."

The award is issued by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Points of Light Institute on behalf of the President of the United States. It was established by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation to recognize volunteerism among families, individuals and groups.

To receive the award, Strand filled out an application in November 2011. "I wrote an essay about what community service I do, what it means to me, why I do this, what I get from it," Strand said.

She also had to give an account of her volunteer hours over the years. Strand said, "I told them about the different activites I've done through Key Club and on my own, especially Saturdays in Motion and how it has affected me."

As Key Club president, Strand has orchestrated numerous events for Chatham High students to give back to the community or raise funds for special causes, including their participation in the Walk for Hunger in Morristown in October and the Red Cross Club's bake sale to raise money for tsunami victims in Japan in March 2011.

Other activities Strand has organizes as Key Club President are:

• Winter Clothing Drive for Big Brothers & Big Sisters Coat Drive
• Shoe Drive
• Pet Supply Drive
• New Eyes for the Needy
• Book Drive
• Teens for Jeans
• Project Showcase (raised more than $1,200 for “the eliMiNaTe project”)
• “Generosity Rocks” Benefit Concert
• CHS “Haunted Hallways”
• Operation Smile “Smile Bags for Children”
• “Help Haiti” Bake Sales

Strand also volunteered with the following programs:

• Saturdays In Motion – recreational autism program at Somerset Hills YMCA (2009-2012)
• Operation Gratitude – Package candy and gifts to send to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Food Drives – Interfaith Food Pantry, Morristown, NJ
• Earth Day Carnival – CHS Environmental Club’s Annual Earth Day Carnival.
• Heart Awareness Congenital Heart Valentine’s Day “Heart” Party, Goryeb Children’s Hospital, Morristown, NJ – (2008-2012) – organized volunteers and children’s activities for annual Valentine’s Day event.

Jonathan Capizzi, Chatham High's Key Club advisor, said Strand "has an exceptional work ethic, she is always on top of getting out information to her classmates and even helping out the advisors when necessary. Her passion for helping others and seeing how gratifying it is to her is an inspiration to all members of Key Club. We are lucky to have such a motivated and talented young woman leading our organization, students, and community.”

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program presents the award to Americans of all ages who volunteer significant amounts of time on behalf of President Barack Obama. Strand represented Chatham High this year in the Spirit of Community program.

John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, said, "The recipients of these awards vividly demonstrate that young people across America are making remarkable contributions to the health and vitality of their communities."