MCMINNVILLE, Ore. (KOIN 6) — There are more than three-quarters of a million kids in Oregon. A lot of them do good things, but only two earned a national award for their impressive community service.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards represents the United States’ largest youth recognition program based on volunteer service.
It recently recognized Noah Miller, an 8th grader at McMinnville’s Duniway Middle School. When his choir class wasn’t enough, he started the group Vocal Adrenaline two years ago.
“I think it’s more friendly than other singing groups just because we do songs that are fun and everyone kind of feels like a family,” 14-year-old Miller said.
Besides singing, Noah gets straight As, plays piano and dances competitively.
“I like to go, go, go and do a lot of stuff to occupy my time,” Noah said. He isn’t just an outstanding student, he also serves people in need at church.
Every night, Noah can serve up to 150 meals to the city’s homeless at Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church. He also volunteers for the youth worship leaders and helps teach two to 11-year-olds about God and good citizenship. In addition, he also helps lead kids in vocals and hand motions during music sessions.
His family couldn’t be more proud.
“We’re ecstatic for him, especially because it’s rewarding to see some fruit come back from all the volunteering,” Noah’s mom, Keeli Miller-Fodge, said.
Prudential will give Noah $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in May, where they will join the top two honorees from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for four days of national recognition events.
The other Oregon winner is Marissa McGinnis, 17, of Klamath Falls. Marissa, a senior at Mazama High School, took on responsibility for organizing an annual volleyball game at her school that raised more than $6,500 to provide local uninsured women with free mammograms.
These are Oregon’s Distinguished Finalists for 2015:
Jessi Beyer, 16, of Banks, Ore., a junior at Valley Catholic High School, founded the “Friends of Jordan Memorial 5K & Kids’ Run” in 2013 and raised $4,500 to offset the cost of medical bills for the treatment of the infant son of a family friend who had been diagnosed with a severe immune disorder and died shortly after diagnosis. Jessi, who ran the entire event with the help of a crew of volunteers, has turned the event into an annual fundraiser and, in 2014, raised an additional $5,000 to support another child with the same immune disorder.
Grant Crim, 19, of Coquille, Ore., a senior at Winter Lakes High School, has raised $50,000 to support the American Cancer Society by participating in its annual Relay for Life as a cancer survivor and as a team captain, event co-chair, and most recently as the “Hero of Hope” representative whose main goal was to inspire people from 12 western states to get involved. Grant, who has had numerous surgeries and chemotherapy to treat brain tumors, and has lost his vision as a result, has worked hard to give back to the organization that provided hope for him and his family through research, clinical trials and support during his treatments.
Talia Quatraro, 18, of Lake Oswego, Ore., a senior at Lake Oswego Senior High School, is a volunteer coach for a cheer team for athletes with special needs, and has helped create and teach choreography, traveled with and advocated for the team, and has also raised $4,000 to support the team since 2010. Talia, inspired to volunteer when she witnessed the athletes’ dedication and pride, volunteers more than one hundred hours each season and also volunteers during the team’s summer training camps.
Cynthia Santiago, 14, of Portland, Ore., a freshman at St. Mary’s Academy, has dedicated every Sunday for the past two years to help serve hot meals to the hungry through a program called “Potluck in the Park.” Cynthia, who was originally introduced to the program as a way to hang out with a friend who was volunteering, has since become a passionate advocate for the homeless and hungry and a valued volunteer.