I recently had the opportunity to meet two such remarkable young people - Chloe Maxmin of Nobleboro and Olivia Watson of Topsham - when they were in Washington to receive the 2009 Prudential Spirit of Community award, which recognize students for exemplary community service. From nearly 20,000 nominees nationwide, only two students from each state are selected for this recognition, so it was a particular honor to meet these two young women.
Although they have dedicated themselves to different types of civic involvement, they are united by a desire to make their communities better, to encourage others to get involved, and to grow personally from their experiences. It is a pleasure to share their stories today.
Chloe is a 16-year-old junior at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle who lives on a farm and has a lifelong love of the Maine wilderness. With her passion for the environment, she was surprised upon entering high school to find little awareness of environmental issues among her fellow students, so she started a "Climate Action Club" to initiate a wide range of projects in her school and community to combat global warming. Her efforts to galvanize a local green movement have produced real results: the club's "action teams" have eliminated vehicle idling on school grounds and established recycling programs for batteries and printer cartridges. The club is installing energy-optimization software on school computers and vending machines, and is campaigning to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags in town. In fact, Chloe donated her $1,000 Spirit of Community prize to the Climate Action Club as seed money for a challenge grant for local merchants, organizations, and individuals to buy reusable shopping bags. That is true commitment!
Olivia, 12, is a seventh-grader at Mt. Ararat Middle School. Her community service takes the form of volunteering to care for very young children at Building Blocks, a daycare center in her town. It all started last year, when she decided she wanted to do something worthwhile with her summer vacation and gain babysitting experience. When she heard about a volunteer opportunity at the daycare center from a friend, she says it sounded like fun and the challenge she was looking for. Olivia began working there last summer and during the school year on Fridays. Her job is to help out with 10 toddlers - playing, reading, feeding, nurturing, and teaching good manners. She rides her bike to the center - after she finishes her paper route! That also is true commitment.
The energy and determination demonstrated by both young women benefit their communities today and will for years to come as the toddlers Olivia cares for grow into happy adolescents with a love of learning and as the environmental awareness Chloe advocates takes root and spreads. And both benefit as well from learning the self-reliance and sense of accomplishment that come from taking on responsibilities and meeting them. As Olivia says, "Now I feel like I can do anything I set my mind to."
Chloe and Olivia both possess great compassion and integrity, and their desire to serve others is admirable. But they are not alone. These two young women exemplify the tremendous capabilities of our youth. Communities across Maine and all of America are brimming with young people making a positive difference. I see it everywhere, and it continues to reaffirm my faith in our next generation of leaders and in our country's future.