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Kasey Brownell selected for volunteer program |
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Wednesday, 21 February 2007 |
Kasey Brownell, a 13-year-old eight-grader at Utterback Middle School, was one of two youth named Montana’s top two youth volunteers for 2007.
The announcement comes from the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism.
Now in its 12th year, it is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with National Association of Secondary School Principals.
Brownell, an eight grader, saw a need and organized a community race/walk fund-raiser to benefit cancer patients and their families.
Since both of her grandmothers had breast cancer, “I felt that it was important for me to spread the word about breast cancer,” she said.
 Kasey Brownell
After brainstorming for ideas and deciding on a race/walk, she developed a plan and a timetable, recruited volunteer help, created an advertising campaign and permission forms, solicited sponsors and donations of prizes, ordered tee-shirts and educational materials, and planned a ceremony to honor breast cancer survivors.
On the day of her event, she set up the course and coordinated volunteers from her school, Girl Scout troop, and community organizations.
Her “Stomping Out Breast Cancer” walk/run drew 162 participants and raised more than $3,000, which she donated to Hi-Line Women Against Breast Cancer and the Montana Breast and Cervical Coalition.
“My experience challenged me to attack an adult problem with my heart and strength,” Brownell said, adding, “Anyone can make a difference.”
She told the I-O on Friday, “I hope the event will become an annual event.”
Two volunteers from each state are named, one from middle schools and the other from high schools. This year, the high school winner is Alison Mullin of Stevensville.
State-level judges, who selected the distinguished finalists based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth, reviewed more than 7,500 local honorees.
Brownell and Mullin will each receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense paid trip in May to Washington, D.C.
In the nation’s capital they will join the top two honorees, from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for a few days of national recognition events.
Ten of them will be named America’s top youth volunteers for 2007 at that time.
On a side note, Brownell will be making a second trip to the nation’s capital, also in May, for a leadership and government conference with the Girl Scouts.
UMS Principal Craig Barringer told the I-O, “Kasey is an outstanding student, who is motivated to make our school and community a better place. She is a future leader who already has made a lasting impact on our school and her peers. Since her early years in school she has had a unique awareness of the needs of others.”
He went on to add, “As she has grown this has matured to the point of making a positive difference in our community. She is very deserving of this service award.”
She is the daughter of Mike and Jamie Brownell of Conrad.
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