3. Service Learning Hickory High and the National Honor Society began an Annual Service Project to honor Veterans in the Shenango Valley.
4. Service Learning Preparation: Students will need monetary support for some purchases and will hold a fund raiser for the remainder of needs. Students will also need access to historical records, contact with media, advanced planning and be prepared to organize an honor ceremony, luncheon and write/speak about the significance of Veterans in our American society.
5. Service Learning Collaboration with community: All interested community members will be invited to Hickory High School to participate in the ceremony and luncheon. Parents of each participating NHS student will be invited to participate and watch the ceremony as well. Several press releases and informational packets to local media were created and sent to media. Several photographers, reporters and local politicians were present to document and highlight the event.
6. Service Learning Diversity for project: Students, through Veterans research, will be working with several other students in various grade levels, nationalities and origins. Additionally, honored Veterans will represent all walks of life and backgrounds. Although the Shenango Valley is not extremely diverse, the Veterans represented will be from several world-wide conflicts, various age groups and generations.
7. Service Learning Timeline: This project began in 2010 and has been agreed upon to be an annual project. Expansion of the project will be to include and collaborate with other local schools who also host Veterans Day celebrations. As the high school administrator this project was integral to me. I was involved in the planning, implementation, and presentation. I lead the speeches, candle lighting ceremony and Pledge of Allegiance. I also welcomed dignitaries and local politicians. Classroom teachers and the NHS advisor performed all classroom lessons and assisted with research along with the librarian.