Some people sit around and let things happen. Others are bothered by problems, but do little more than complain
At Clarkston High School Senior Awards night, the community found out what students and teachers at CHS already knew. Sarah Julian is not one of those people.
Julian was presented with an engraved bronze medallion recognizing her selection as a Distinguished Finalist in the 2005 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program.
‘I was pretty surprised. It wasn’t something I really expected,? Julian said.
Julian was honored for co-founding and leading a peer listening group that supports other students and helps them cope with grief and other problems. Julian and a friend worked with a faculty sponsor to set up the guidelines, goals and training for the group’s activities.
Julian discussed the most rewarding aspect of her volunteer work: ‘Seeing the people that came in to talk to us in the groups. Getting to know them over the year and seeing them change and work through whatever they needed help with.?
All middle and high school students in the United States, as well as members of groups like the Girl Scouts or 4-H, were eligible to select a student or member for the award last November.
After being nominated, Julian’s selection was reviewed by state-level judges who chose two State Honorees and a number of Distinguished Finalists based on criteria like: personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth.
Julian, a senior at Clarkston High School, plans to attend Albion College in the fall and is considering pyschology as a major.