HFM BOCES Digital Multimedia student Rachel Williams has been selected by the Peter R. Marsh Foundation as a recipient of this year’s Silent Servant Scholarship Award for her dedication to voluntarily serving her community.
The $500 scholarship is awarded to public high school students across the nation that exemplify empathy and compassion through volunteering in their community. The Peter R. Marsh Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Vancouver, Washington, gives the award to honor students for benevolence, a behavior and set of values that will sustain their families and communities for decades to come.
Williams, a senior from Northville Central School, was nominated by administrators by both the HFM Career and Technical Education Center and Northville Central School, as well as a number of her teachers.
“I was so surprised. It makes me feel so good. I had no idea I was being nominated. When they told me I had won the award, my jaw was on the floor,” an excited Williams stated.
In order to be considered for the award, nominees must demonstrate unselfish concern for the welfare of others through volunteer work without monetary or personal gain.
“The presentation of the award, combined with testimony by the recipient, offers a teachable-moment for their peers to be inspired by their empathetic and compassionate example,” according to the Marsh Foundation website.
Williams is the President of the Northville Central School Drama Club. She says she takes pride in mentoring younger students who have joined the club, and she acts as an ambassador for the organization. In addition, she performs community service at her church by overseeing the Kids’ Club at the Baptist Church of Northville. Williams was also a member of the girls varsity soccer team at Northville Central this past fall.
“Rachel is the type of student who has a genuine eagerness to help whoever needs it and in whatever way they need it,” stated HFM CTE Digital Multimedia teacher Karen Garrison. “She’s charismatic, motivated and self-disciplined and deserving of this award.”
Williams plans to enroll at Fulton-Montgomery Community College next fall and says she would eventually like to get into filmmaking for a career.
For more information on the Peter R. Marsh Foundation, visit https://prmfoundation.org/.
Rachel Williams, a senior from Northville Central School, poses with HFM CTE Digital Multimedia teachers and HFM CTE administrators. Williams was recently honored with the Peter R. Marsh Foundation’s Silent Servant Scholarship Award.
