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Local students vie for Christian Service Awards scholarships
By Joyce Coronel, news@catholicsun.org
December 18, 2008
Eighth-grade students from throughout the Valley waited anxiously at the Diocesan Pastoral Center Dec. 6 as the selection committee for the Christian Service Awards called them back, one by one, for an interview.
Although 96 students were applying, only 17 will ultimately be chosen to receive the $2,000 per year, four-year scholarship to a diocesan Catholic high school.
Pam Hammond, program coordinator for the Catholic Community Foundation, which oversees the awards, said the scholarships are unique.
“They are awarded based on service to parish, school and community, rather than most scholarships or grants that are based on academic grades or financial need,” Hammond said.
Nicole Garrett, an eighth-grader from St. Timothy Catholic School in Mesa, was waiting alongside her parents to be interviewed for the award. Garrett wants to attend Seton Catholic High School this fall.
Besides helping serve meals and distribute food boxes at Paz de Cristo, an East Valley ministry that provides a daily hot dinner to the homeless and poor, Garrett has rolled up her sleeves to help cancer patients.
After dusting, mopping and vacuuming with “Cleaning for a Cause,” a volunteer service for cancer sufferers sponsored by her uncle’s cleaning business, Garrett said she has grown in faith.
“It makes me feel grateful for what I have and it makes me want to help them more as Jesus did,” Garrett said, adding that the service makes her — and the recipients — feel good.
“Even though they’re ill, they can still enjoy a clean house,” she said. “It has made me want to work harder and to make that a habit in my whole life.”
Gretchyn Kaylor, a student at St. Jerome Catholic School who would like to attend either Xavier or Notre Dame Preparatory, spent eight hours a week over the summer working as a candy striper at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Besides delivering flowers and directing visitors to patients’ rooms, she also worked in the playroom entertaining the children.
“It was really fun and I got to help them forget about their illness or why they were there for a little while,” Kaylor said, adding that the service has helped reinforce the Catholic education she’s had so far. Serving others is something she wants to continue as a Catholic high school student.
Jennifer and Tod Taylor, Gretchyn’s parents, couldn’t be any prouder of their daughter’s devotion to helping others.
“Her eighth-grade teacher recommended her,” Jennifer said. “She’s very self-motivated and she’s pretty much done this all herself.”
Besides Gretchyn’s work at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, she has also served at St. Vincent de Paul and the St. Mary’s Food Bank, as well as worked at an annual Mexican dinner that raises money for André House.
Not all of the students applying for the scholarship attend Catholic elementary schools. Joseph Meli, who attends Desert Arroyo Elementary School in Cave Creek and is a parishioner at Our Lady of Joy in Carefree, would like to attend Notre Dame Preparatory in the fall.
Meli is a member of the Squires, a group of young men who support the work of, and hope to someday become, a Knight of Columbus. He’s helped with the Knights’ Tootsie Roll drive as well as their blood drives and also acts as an altar server at the parish.
“I’m very interested in having an academic program that involves learning about Christ and openly expressing my faith with others who can express it with me,” Meli said.
In order to qualify for the Christian service scholarship, students must be practicing Catholics, registered in the Diocese of Phoenix who plan to attend a local Catholic high school. The committee looks for students who exemplify Christ-centered behavior in their service to their parish, school and community.
Letters of recommendation from the student’s pastor, teacher or principal as well as their community service supervisor must be submitted along with an essay written by the student.
This year, applicants were asked to compose a 500-word essay explaining what the biblical feeding of the 5,000 meant to them and how that particular Gospel passage has affected their lives.
“They are so generous and giving and kind-hearted at such a young age and they feel a responsibility to help others who are less fortunate,” Hammond said of the essays.
Last year 14 students received a Christian Service Award scholarship, but this year the Catholic Community Foundation was able to secure more donors, increasing the total to 17.
“We hope to increase the number of awards every year,” Hammond said, adding that “anyone can sponsor an award.”
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