Old Colony Archives
Old Colony Honor Society recognized
NHS Chapter wins 6th consecutive Outstanding Service Project Award
By Melanie Alves, Standard-Times correspondent
December 1, 2008
ROCHESTER - In recognition of members' continued service to the community, the National Honor Society of Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School has received the Outstanding Service Project Award for the sixth consecutive year.
This is the ninth time overall the Old Colony Honor Society has won the national award and, according to program specialist Elancia Felder, the most won by any chapter since the creation of the OSP awards in 1994.
The Honor Society members along with their adviser, Chris Watling, attended the National Conference in Orlando Nov. 7-9 and presented a project they did last school year.
"Every year we try to come up with a different project," Mrs. Watling said.
Last year, the students visited the Rochester Senior Center and the New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home, where they made button brooches with the residents.
They got the idea for the brooches through a member of the faculty who brought one in. With the help of many, including staff and students, they quickly collected thousands of buttons for the project.
The honor society members first intended to make the brooches and deliver them to nursing homes, but decided that it would be more meaningful if they made them with the residents. For many of the students, the experience was an enlightening one.
"You just saw all their faces light up," Kaitlyn Dextraze, a junior, said.
"It was really rewarding. I enjoyed seeing the smiles on their faces and knowing that I was a part of that," said Jonathan Ferreira, a senior and the president of Old Colony's Honor Society chapter.
During the conference, the students took part in activities and heard from motivational and keynote speakers. On the last day, they presented their projects and were judged. Once again, Old Colony's students took home the top award.
"It's nice to have a way to help the community," said Nicole Dexter, a junior member of the society.
"I think the National Honor Society has inspired a lot of kids to do community service," said Old Colony superintendent Gary Brown.
This year, the 51 members of Old Colony's Honor Society will not be slowing down. They are taking on a number of community service projects including a holiday food drive and care packages for past Old Colony students to help them during college finals.
"The students are very enthusiastic about these projects; it makes the job worthwhile," Mrs. Watling said.
For the students in the Honor Society, it is their hope that others will follow in their footsteps.
"It would be nice to know that others are going to try and do the same as us," Jarod Ferreira said.
"These kinds of projects are a good way for the students to see that a small gesture of kindness really does make a difference in someone's life," Mrs. Watling said.
Photo (top right): Andrew T. Gallagher, Standard-Times special
Old Colony's National Honor Society, shown above with adviser Chris Watling, front center, won the Outstanding Service Project Award for the sixth consecutive year, and the ninth time overall, the most won by any chapter.