YAC C.A.R.E. Award
Posted on June 3, 2009
The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) has awarded the 2009 YAC C.A.R.E. (Community Awareness Reflected in Education) Award to Ms. Dana Wilson. As the recipient of this award, Ms. Wilson has received a $2,000 grant for Pine River Elementary School. They can use the money to benefit their schools facility, classroom, students, programming, or any other special projects.
The goal of this award is to honor a St. Clair County teacher who contributes to their community by incorporating community involvement and/or charitable action into his/her classroom. The YAC received over twenty nominations before narrowing it down to six finalists. Those finalists included:
- Ms. Donna Limarenko, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School
- Mr. William Westerhof, Belle River Elementary School
- Mr. Al Lewandowski, Port Huron Northern High School
- Mr. Jason Stier, Riverview East High School
- Ms. Dana Wilson, Pine River Elementary
- Ms. Shelly Piechotte, Marysville Middle School
Ms. Wilson incorporates community involvement and charitable action into her classroom every year. She has created programs within her school that promote caring for the Earth and for other people. Her students’ have- raised money to support soldiers in Iraq, children with Leukemia, Hurricane Katrina- volunteered at the local Medi-Lodge, ran a recycling program and developed a garden. These are just a few examples of the charitable acts the students are doing to make a difference in their community under the guidance of Ms. Wilson.
Mr. William Westerhof, a fifth grade teacher at Belle River Elementary School in Marine City was selected as the runner up. He was awarded the $1,000 runner up award because of his dedication to his community and his students. Not only does he volunteer his own time, he encourages his students to do the same. His students have raised money for a number of charities and he has inspired them to be better members of their communities.
