West Ashley High School has initiated the Jefferson Awards program, actively engaging students in service learning and community service projects, which have garnered significant prestige and participation. Key initiatives include a volunteer tracking system, monthly award ceremonies, and various fundraising projects to support local and global causes. The leadership team aims to expand the program and foster partnerships with other schools, continuing to enhance their impact in the community.

1. West Ashley High School Jefferson Awards Students In Action Where We Have Been & Where We Are Heading April 13th, 2010

2. ENGAGING THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY – Creating a Presence at WAHS Our principal, Mrs. Runyon, actively supports all of our service learning endeavors, and is a member of Students in Action. Ms. Adams, our Leadership Development teacher and Faculty Coordinator, is a key part of our Jefferson Awards committee. We involve all of West Ashley High School in the following ways: Bulletin Board, displayed in a prominent location PowerPoint presentation on the daily news reel PowerPoint presentation shown during PAWS Surprise delivery of nominations to monthly honorees Monthly Jefferson Award ceremony We maintain a constant presence on the WAHS campus In just 8 months the Jefferson Awards at WAHS has risen to share the same prestige as the National Honor Society and Beta Club.

3. Engaging the School Community in Service - Volunteering Our volunteer tracking system at WAHS is unique. Because we meet as a class, we use SASI to log seat time hours. Our entire class is also logged onto Ugive.org, and we hope to have the entire school using this website by the end of the 2011 school year. National Honor Society and Beta Club members also complete 20 hours of service learning each. WAHS total Enrollment: 2,800 students WAHS total Student Volunteer hours: 6,759 hours. Average # of Volunteer Hours per student : 2.5 hours

4. EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM Our goal is to give back! In such a short time we have been able to effect the lives of so many. We want to continue to give back to West Ashley, South Carolina, the United States and abroad. Wildcats want to make a global impact! Students In Action provides the perfect medium! Our leadership team consists of 20 students; we meet as an elective class focused entirely on service learning. The class is broken into project teams, with all students serving various roles on different projects. Wildcats use Students In Action (www.studentsinaction.net) to network and communicate with other students involved in service learning. Wildcats plan for succession: WAHS will be partnered with Burke High School. Students from Burke HS will be enrolled in the WAHS Leadership Development class. Those students will play an integral role in continuing to develop the Jefferson Awards program at Burke HS. Wildcats also had a hand in recruiting North Charleston High School. Jennifer Argentina, the NCHS faculty representative, has visited WAHS and has seen our Jefferson Awards program in action! WAHS also introduced NCHS to UGive executive Nick Jackson… we are expecting BIG things from this partnership!!! Leadership Development will continue as an elective course at WAHS. We will also be expanding as an afterschool program to accommodate more students. All interested students must complete an application, two faculty recommendations, and permission from Ms. Adams. WAHS attended the SIA Fall Leadership Conference in October; what a great way to kick of f the year with The Jefferson Awards/ Students in Action! We have made some lasting connections!

5. Recognizing Public Service at WAHS Monthly nominations are taken from the WAHS community. Nominees are surprised during 4A block with a certificate, photo opportunity, and an invitation to the official Jefferson Awards Ceremony the following Friday. PowerPoint Presentations of the nominees showcasing their service learning initiative are shown on a daily news reel on the WAHS campus, and during PAWS advisory period. Monthly Jefferson Awards Ceremonies take place in the WAHS Media Center. Members of the community and the media are invited. WAHS’s Jefferson Award Winners: November – Shaniece Gathers December – Randi Watkins January – Ja’lessa Williams February – Alana French, Alysha Everson, Collin Nalley, Christine Markland March – Jessie Mintz A prominently displayed bulletin board displays all service learning projects, Jefferson Awards Winners, and information about Leadership Development at WAHS.

6. Students In Action: EXPANDING FINANCIAL CAPACITY FOR VOLUNTEERS Students In Action Service Learning Projects: The Buddy Walk – 3K Run/Walk to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics Project Pink – Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser sponsored by Herff Jones. Project Ansonborough – Donation Drive for Low Income Senior Center WAHS Haiti Water Project – School wide effort to raise money to purchase a water filtration system from Water Mission International for our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Teens 4 Jeans – Donation drive/Corporate partnership with Aeropostale. Soles 4 Souls – Donation Drive, partnership with JICHS Bridging the Gap – Fundraiser for Charleston Miracle League Oblique Fitness Expo- TCYSD w/ Mayors Office, Fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Charleston. Operation Chile Relief- Fundraiser for our brothers and sisters of Chile Fashion In Action – Fundraiser for Cancer research Spring for Teens- CCSD donation drive for homeless teens Middle School Recruitment – recruitment trips to middle schools in West Ashley

7. Students In Action: EXPANDING FINANCIAL CAPACITY FOR VOLUNTEERS Total Amount of Money Raised: $600 for Cancer Research $2,000 for Haiti Water Filtration System $400 for Special Olympics $500 for the people of Chile $150 for Charleston Miracle League $150 Big Brother /Big Sisters of Charleston Approximately $3,500 of donated items Teens 4 Jeans Soles 4 Souls Project Ansonborouh $7,300 TOTAL MARGIN RAISED!!!!! 6,759 service hours X $10 per hour = $67,590 Generated by the WAHS WILDCATS!!!

8. WAHS Jefferson Awards/SIA in the News September 2009 - West Of News Article- featuring WAHS Leadership Development class November 2009 – Channel 4 News coverage of WAHS’s 1 st Jefferson Awards Ceremony February 2010 – West Of News Article – Ms. Adams wins a “Westie”- person of the decade in WA February 2010 – West Of News Article – Mr. and Miss West Ashley finalists are SIA members. March 2010 – Post and Courier – WAHS Haiti Water Project March 2010 – West Of News Article – SIA member Adaeze Aninweze featured in Sandlapper Classic. April 9 th 2010 Post and Courier Article – WAHS Helping Haiti

9. GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF SIA Promoting Students In Action : Middle School Recruitment- trips to WAHS feeder schools to promote awareness of Leadership Development and other service clubs at WAHS. Professional Development on SIA given by Ms. Adams at a High Schools That Work seminar. Individual presentations to WAHS clubs and organizations Partnership with and a presence in National Honor Society, Beta Club, and NJROTC Faculty coordinators from North Charleston High School and R.B. Stahl High School visit Wildcat Leadership Development. Wildcats played a MAJOR role in facilitating the Students In Action/ Jefferson Award program at NCHS. We introduced the executives at UGive and Mrs. Argentina who are partnering for a SKYPE project! As part of a CCSD redesign program, WAHS will be partnered with Burke High School. Students from Burke will be enrolled in the WAHS Leadership Development class and those students will play an integral role in developing Students In Action at Burke.

10. Wildcat Innovative Partnerships Wildcats are proud about our 1 st year in Students In Action! WAHS gave 20 elective credits for service learning this year. We plan to continue as a elective course and an afterschool program. Wildcats would like to thank our partners….. Without you, none of this would be possible! Charleston Miracle League Oblique Magazine of Charleston City of Charleston Mayors Office – Mayor’s Youth Commission Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Charleston WWW.UGIVE.ORG Herff Jones Water Missions International Jefferson Awards/ Students In Action WAHS Administration, Staff and students