YEADDISS – Outstanding work by members of the Hayes Lewis Elementary School UNITE Club during the 2009-10 school year earned them the UNITE Excellence Award for elementary schools in the central region.
The award was presented during a ceremony at the school on September 30.
Schools receiving the Community Service Award have extended their reach beyond the classroom walls, either to directly benefit a community-based program or organization or through its development of partnerships within the community.
Winning schools receive a special Eagle trophy along with an additional $750 to be used toward club anti-drug activities during the current school year.
Speakers during the program included Tonya Asher, former sponsor and UNITE Service Corps (USC) member, Christina Farley, current sponsor and USC member, principal Patrick Morgan and UNITE Education Director Debbie Trusty.
Following the ceremony 120 youth and staff were treated to a pizza party by UNITE Coalition Coordinators Tom Vicini and Ashley Akers.
Students at Hayes Lewis made quite an impact on their community last year.
Club members joined with the school’s PRIDE Club to collect canned goods for the elderly during the Thanksgiving holiday, and in December created Christmas cards for patients at Joshua’s Dream, an inpatient facility for those addicted to drugs.
Among the group’s other activites, club members conducted a “Grinch Jail” at the school’s Christmas festival, spread the anti-drug message during a fun obstacle course event, and promoted “Say No To Drugs” with a large hallway display.
To view photos from the event visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/uniteky/sets/72157625109808262/.