Service above self award presented to SACS

By Scott Dionne
Houlton Rotary President
    This year’s winner of the Houlton Rotary Service Above Self Award is Southern Aroostook Community School.
    In reading this year’s applications for the Service Above Self Award, I find myself in awe with the endeavors tackled by the schools represented in this room. The theme of Rotary going into 2012 is “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity.”  There’s no doubt that our schools have found the strength and guidance from within to maintain academic and athletic excellence while urging students to embrace those people and organizations around them that need assistance. From donating money to families in need, fuel assistance programs, and the Humane Society to promoting conservation and recycling programs, mentoring younger students, and heightening awareness for cancer and domestic violence, the students of our region have embraced the needs of humanity.
    This year’s winner of the Service Above Self Award understands that community service is contagious.  In this room last year, the students of this school were impressed by the projects other area schools had supported and, wanting to contribute more to humanity, they adopted numerous projects throughout 2011.  This school now recommends that each student participates in at least 10 hours of community service during the school year.
    Students hosted a unique basketball event called the “Pink Out” to raise money and awareness for cancer. Additional students embraced cancer as a cause and generated more funds to donate.  In all, the students gave over $1,200 to support cancer research. The students of this school also participated in clothing and food drives, assisted the local animal shelter and food pantry, and assembled Thanksgiving food baskets for needy families.