Erika Gemzer's more than 500 hours of service, sincere personality and leadership qualities led the way to her winning the 2005 Youth Citizenship Award.

 

Erika will join the 2004 Energy Bowl winner to serve as Jackson EMC delegates on the Washington Youth Tour. An all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., the Youth Tour is a power-packed week of crash courses in leadership, policy, history and networking.

 

Erika also wins a $1,000 college scholarship and a $1,000 grant for the charity of her choice. A senior at Dacula High School, Erika says volunteering satisfies her hunger for serving the community. "Volunteering is a way to give back to a community that's given me so much. It gives me worth because I see the smiles of those I am able to help, and in turn they realize someone cares about them."

Erika's desire to serve others goes beyond volunteering for organizations in her community. Erika created and organized three personal projects: Project Easter Joy, created to make baskets for children under the care of the Department of Family and Children Services; Operation Deliver Water Buffalo, organized to collect money to purchase livestock to be given to families in developing countries; and Operation Christmas Elf, created to raise money to buy Christmas gifts for a less fortunate schoolmate. Erika matched donations to Operation Christmas Elf with her own money, doubling her efforts.

Erika also volunteers for several other organizations, including the Lawrenceville Twilight Adventures Camp, Girl Scouts of Northwest Georgia and The Happy Factory.

Nearly 40 students applied for the 2005 Youth Citizenship Award. From that impressive list, five finalists were selected to compete in an intense interview process.

Erika Gemzer's Volunteer Hours for Service Organizations

Role	Organization	Hours
Organizer and Creator	Project Easter Joy and Operation Deliver Water Buffalo, Operation Christmas Joy	116
Volunteer	The Happy Club	45
Tutor	Peerleading	74.5
Camp Counselor	Lawrenceville Twilight Adventures Camp	93
Troop President	Girl Scouts	54
Worker	The Happy Factory (making toy cars for terminally ill children)	8
Planning Member	C.A.S.E Committee	34
Group coordinator	Christmas Adopt-A-Family	15
Coordinator and creator	DFACS Toy Drive	34
Food preparation/server	Welcome House	21.5
Workshop Leader	Collins Hill Theatre Day	10.5
Total Service Hours		505.5

The Youth Citizenship Award winner serves as one of Jackson EMC's delegates to the Washington, D.C., Youth Tour.

Judges Comments on Erika's Interview:

"You felt in talking with Erika that she gladly gave of herself to each program she worked with because she both intuitively and literally understood that a deep personal commitment would strengthen her efforts and lead to greater good."

"Erika showed passion for helping people, while also showing a mature understanding for how her ability to continue to help others in a more significant role would be through inquiring an education that will help her give back to her community, but also be a contributor to society."

"Erika was well-spoken and focused. She was candid and her presentation seemed sincere, wise and confident."

"Erika was able to express herself concisely and get right to the point. She is also creative in taking the initiative to find ways to perform community service, not just waiting for opportunities to pop up."

 

Youth Citizenship Award Finalists Have

 

Impressive Record of Service

 

 

 

Kaushal Amin

Duluth High School

 

 

 

 

Claire Coenen

Athens Academy

 

 

 

 

Laila Hassam-Malani

Woodward Academy

 

 

 

 

Timothy Martin, Jr.

Banks County High School