St. Charles to recognize youth leadership projects
The St. Charles Youth Commission issues a yearly challenge to young people in the city: Find a need local young people have and develop a way to address the need. Eleven individuals or teams of individuals found such needs and created solutions with only minimal costs attached.
On Monday, the city council will recognize the projects deemed worthy of pursuing by the Youth Commission. Each project will receive a monetary award to go forward.
Challenge Grant Winners1. Thompson Middle School: Carol Dallstream and the eighth-grade orchestra class for recording patriotic music of their Annual Veterans Day Tour on CDs and sending copies to military personnel.#160;Award: $2502.#160;Wredling Middle School: Kary Vitali and the Builder#146;s Club for programs to help kids face the challenges of peer pressure, bullying and substance abuse.#160;Award:#160;$4503.#160;St. Charles North: Peter Gleason, Angelica Iacobucci and the Environmental Club for raising awareness of the environmental well-being of the community by educating people on recycling and stop usage of paper, plastics and chemicals.#160;Award: $4004.#160;Haines Middle School: Jean Cable and the Anti-Bullying Leadership Team for increasing awareness of bullying and to have best-selling author and anti-bullying activist, Jodee Blanco, visit the school to give a presentation on bullying. Award: $2005.#160;St. Charles East: Lisa Dandre and Skills USA to host group celebrations for students to be recognized for good work, acts of kindness, and the skills, talents and abilities of groups of people that might not naturally be recognized by the school.#160;Award:#160;$5006.#160;St. Charles East: Amanda and Brandon Gelinas for #147;Operation Holiday Card,#148; which sends cards to servicemen and women. The project is designed to enhance students#146; writing and communication skills while showing compassion and helping to change students#146; perspective on giving and caring about others.#160;Award:#160;$3507.#160;Thompson: Pam Cameron and Team 7-3 in support of Distict 303 Social Decision Making #8212; Problem Solving, which addresses intolerance.#160;Help students to make connections with the ideas of acceptance and the importance of building positive relationships in working together. Award:#160;$5008. St. Charles East: Regina D#146;Souza, Yash Bhatia and the Science Olympiad in helping to address bullying in schools and get students interested in science projects where science skills can be gained and practiced in a friendly environment for everyone. The idea is to build leadership skills through science activities.#160;Award:#160;$5009.#160;St. Charles East: Tom Straiker and the Auto Club to provide opportunities for students to get involved in team- building relationships in planning, and completing complex problem-solving activities in rebuilding old automobiles into running condition. Award:#160;$50010.#160;St. Charles North: Ryan McGuinness and the National Honor Society in support of the #147;Kohl#146;s for Kids Project#148; to raise money and buy clothing for underprivileged elementary students in the district. Award:#160;$50011.#160;St. Charles East: Josh Schoenblatt in support of the Maximum Impact Leadership Program to educate students that anyone can be a leader.#160;Award:#160;$450