2 KYLA White Paper Projects Highlighted

May 2, 2019 at 2:14 a.m.


Each year two white paper projects are selected to be presented at the Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy graduation ceremony.

Wednesday, those projects were “Creativity and Recovery Art Sessions” by Eleanor Williamson, Warsaw Community High School junior; and “Pack the Mission” by Wawasee High School juniors Zachary Leedy and Michael Hammer.

Williamson said her project was done at the Beaman Home, a shelter for abused people. It started within the Sync!Up program at the Beaman Home which works mainly with children.

“My goal is to use creativity to aid recovery in the emotional situations that the people had been in, and I planned to do that through art sessions,” she said.

Williamson had two sessions, one April 20 and the other April 30. Beaman Home provided most of the supplies that were needed, and Williamson’s mom also financially supported her efforts. Spoonful of Imagination, a small nonprofit art studio in Warsaw, provided their services.

She said she wanted to make people feel better and she felt she accomplished that.

Leedy said “Pack the Mission” was a supply drive to benefit Fellowship Missions, the homeless shelter in Warsaw. They had the drive from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 23 at Martin’s and Owen’s, and then delivered the supplies straight to Fellowship.

Hammer said during the event they received $1,525 in donations.

“We had people come up and thank us for what we’re doing. We had former residents come up to us and donate whole shopping carts. One of the amazing experiences that happened with me at Martin’s was a lady came up to me ... and gave us $100 and a full shopping cart,” Hammer said.

Leedy said they were blown away with how well they did.

“We felt like we accomplished any goal we set,” he said.

Hammer said, “We really live in a great community with all the people that came out to help.”

KYLA moderator Tony Ciriello said the amount that was collected totaled “well over a ton plus the monetary donations.”

Every year, the KYLA Board selects two students from the current class to serve on the board for the next year. For 2019-20, Leedy and Williamson were selected for the at-large student board members.

In concluding his comments, Ciriello announced that after 25 years as the KYLA moderator, he was retiring.

“After 25 years, I’m retiring. This is my last year. ... I’m not quitting because I don’t believe in the project. I’m not quitting because I don’t believe in the students. But after 25 years it’s time for somebody else to take the helm and I can walk away knowing I did my job,” Ciriello said.

Guest speaker for Wednesday’s ceremony was WSBT Chief Meteorologist Matt Rudkin, who spoke about the difference between leaders and leadership.

Each year two white paper projects are selected to be presented at the Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy graduation ceremony.

Wednesday, those projects were “Creativity and Recovery Art Sessions” by Eleanor Williamson, Warsaw Community High School junior; and “Pack the Mission” by Wawasee High School juniors Zachary Leedy and Michael Hammer.

Williamson said her project was done at the Beaman Home, a shelter for abused people. It started within the Sync!Up program at the Beaman Home which works mainly with children.

“My goal is to use creativity to aid recovery in the emotional situations that the people had been in, and I planned to do that through art sessions,” she said.

Williamson had two sessions, one April 20 and the other April 30. Beaman Home provided most of the supplies that were needed, and Williamson’s mom also financially supported her efforts. Spoonful of Imagination, a small nonprofit art studio in Warsaw, provided their services.

She said she wanted to make people feel better and she felt she accomplished that.

Leedy said “Pack the Mission” was a supply drive to benefit Fellowship Missions, the homeless shelter in Warsaw. They had the drive from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 23 at Martin’s and Owen’s, and then delivered the supplies straight to Fellowship.

Hammer said during the event they received $1,525 in donations.

“We had people come up and thank us for what we’re doing. We had former residents come up to us and donate whole shopping carts. One of the amazing experiences that happened with me at Martin’s was a lady came up to me ... and gave us $100 and a full shopping cart,” Hammer said.

Leedy said they were blown away with how well they did.

“We felt like we accomplished any goal we set,” he said.

Hammer said, “We really live in a great community with all the people that came out to help.”

KYLA moderator Tony Ciriello said the amount that was collected totaled “well over a ton plus the monetary donations.”

Every year, the KYLA Board selects two students from the current class to serve on the board for the next year. For 2019-20, Leedy and Williamson were selected for the at-large student board members.

In concluding his comments, Ciriello announced that after 25 years as the KYLA moderator, he was retiring.

“After 25 years, I’m retiring. This is my last year. ... I’m not quitting because I don’t believe in the project. I’m not quitting because I don’t believe in the students. But after 25 years it’s time for somebody else to take the helm and I can walk away knowing I did my job,” Ciriello said.

Guest speaker for Wednesday’s ceremony was WSBT Chief Meteorologist Matt Rudkin, who spoke about the difference between leaders and leadership.
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