Gilbert teens earn varsity letters as volunteers

• GPS high school students can earn varsity letters for volunteering
• Students must volunteer at least 200 hours to qualify
• The varsity letter program recognizes students for community service

Students at two Gilbert high schools have an incentive to do good in the community: varsity letters or pins earned for volunteering.

The Gilbert Education Foundation created the varsity-letter program and introduced it a year ago at Campo Verde and Highland high schools. Both schools have long-established community service classes and clubs. The program expanded to include all GPS high schools this school year, which recently ended.

The Gilbert Education Foundation is a non-profit created to support GPS students through scholarships and promoting community engagement.

About 75 students in the Gilbert Public Schools district this year received varsity letters for volunteering, or a pin if they had already earned a letter through activities such as athletics or band.

Gilbert Education Foundation Executive Director Leanne McEachran said to her knowledge, the program is the only one if its kind in Arizona.

"Not everybody excels in academics, or music or athletics, which is how they earn their varsity letter, " McEachran said. "Most students don't have the opportunity as freshmen to letter if they do excel."

To earn a varsity letter for volunteering, students must complete at least 200 hours of community service in a year and have a minimum 2.5 grade-point average. Volunteer hours are verified by teachers overseeing the community-service programs.

Rachel Blasi, who graduated from Campo Verde High in May, received a pin two years in a row for volunteering. She volunteered more than 500 hours in two years with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Hospice of the Valley and school-sponsored events such as a luggage drive for foster children.

"I know it's supposed to be a selfless act, but I like the feeling afterward," Blasi said of volunteering.

At the Hospice of the Valley, Blasi volunteered to paint patients' nails, to read to them and simply to keep them company.

"I really like the elderly," Blasi said. "I think you can learn a lot from them."

Christian Uribe, who graduated from Campo Verde High in May, volunteered during his four years of high school 1,280 hours at Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary School in Chandler working on graphic-design projects and translating for Spanish-speaking parents.

The varsity-letter program is part of a larger effort by high schools to make community service enticing to students.

"Our kids really set the tone," said Jill Schlessinger, who teaches a community-service class at Highland High. "They've really set the bar and made it fun and cool to be a part of community service."

Seniors graduating from Highland High this year contributed more than 40,000 hours to volunteering over four years, said Robert Allen, who also teaches a community-service class at the school.

She said the school district itself has benefited from students' volunteer work.

"A lot of our students end up helping at elementary schools and junior highs," Schlessinger said. "In the wake of state budget cuts, our students are lifesavers."

Campo Verde community outreach teacher Kathleen Diggs said students will initially volunteer to fulfill graduation requirements.

"But then something more beautiful happens along the way ... something happens to their heart, when they realize what a huge impact they can have on someone's life," Diggs said.

Varsity letters for volunteers

The application requires that students:

• Be a student in Grades 9-12 in a Gilbert Public Schools.

• Complete at least 200 hours of verified community service.

• Have at least 50 hours of non-school related volunteering.

• Must have at least one school-related activity.

• All volunteer activities must be verified by school administrator or teacher.

• Maintain a 2.5 GPA.

More information:

http://www.gefaz.org/.