Students felt prioritized when they saw cozy string lights, a dome seating arrangement, and friendly presenters upon opening the doors to the Principal’s Service Award meeting in Room A8. 

On Sept. 26, the Principal’s Service Award Program directors Isabella Mattioli and Neha Choudhary informed students of the requirements that are needed to preserve their volunteer hours. 

The program serves to reward students depending on the amount of time they put into helping the community. 

According to the program’s mission statement, one of the main goals of the Principal’s Service Award is to inspire students to appreciate the idea of giving back. 

The Principal’s Service Award also recognizes its participants during Senior Recognition Night.

“A lot of students are already doing volunteer work in the community and in school, so it just gives them recognition for some of the volunteer work that they have done,” Principal Ralph Crame said. 

Students record and validate the number of hours they have volunteered. Seniors can turn in their recording sheet along with a reflection to Room A8 on Oct. 4, 2019 or on April 20, 2020 to receive the award.

“A lot of seniors want to use their award on college applications,” Mattioli said. “That’s what the early deadlines are for.” 

The award is in the form of a certificate signed by Crame and can be taken home if the students are also willing to expound on other values that they’ve written in their one-page reflection. 

According to Mattioli, reflection is the most crucial part of the program. 

“A lot of people will say that they learned job skills so that when they go to college or get a future career, they have a lot more skills with their job,” Mattioli said. 

Kyle Wilkinson, a senior participating in the program, adores and retains many values throughout his high school years of volunteering. 

“The biggest thing I got out of volunteering would be helping people learn about new things like conservation and saving the planet,” Wilkinson said. 

In conjunction with Wilkinson, Crame believes that students can gain other values from reflecting on what they have volunteered for. 

“The program gives the students an appreciation of what they have. It highlights some areas of our community that are not as fortunate as they are,” Crame said.