Introducing 2017 Student Volunteer Award Winners

There’s no doubt about it: volunteering can change communities—and the individuals who do it—for the better. Student volunteering provides a pathway for building skills (or even future employment) while benefiting local citizens. And, as we’ve covered before, that service can lead to more scholarships for students.

Scholarship America’s Dollars for Scholars Student Volunteer Award (SVA) is one of those opportunities, celebrating local volunteerism. The award encourages and rewards volunteer service, while also applauding and supporting academic excellence.

Today, we’re announcing 15 SVA winners from across the nation. Each of these students will receive a $1,000 scholarship, with one national winner able to renew their award for up to three years. (Check out this blog for our future national winner announcement!) From camp counseling to tutoring immigrant students to providing STEM resources to rural communites, these students collectively contributed 23,606 hours of service in their workplaces, schools and communities.

Wyatt Tauber
Nevis-Pam Lindow Foundation Dollars for Scholars
Nevis, Minnesota

Payton Sparks
East Washington Dollars for Scholars
Pekin, Indiana

Allison Winters
Oelwein Dollars for Scholars
Oelwein, Iowa

Christina Scalzo
North Syracuse Dollars for Scholars
Syracuse, New York

Rachel Marquette
Shawano Dollars for Scholars
Shawano, Wisconsin

Kayla Stalph
Wethersfield Dollars for Scholars
Wethersfield, Conneticut

Bailey Kieffer
Quilcene-Brinnon Dollars for Scholars
Quilcene, Washington

Gretchen Fritel
Rolette Dollars for Scholars
Rolette, North Dakota

Mikayla Rix
Allegany County Area Foundation Dollars for Scholars
Belmont, New York

Emily Carleton
Maple River Dollars for Scholars
Mapleton, Minnesota

Madeline Bremel
District 883 Dollars for Scholars
Rockford, Minnesota

Ryan Virkler
Phoenix Central School District Dollars for Scholars
Phoenix, New York

Noah Thomas
Centralia High School Dollars for Scholars
Centralia, Washington

BreeAnna Bailey
Norwell Dollars for Scholars
Ossian, Indiana

Lauren Carlson
Fairmont Dollars for Scholars
Fairmont, Minnesota

All students were nominated for this award by members from their community Dollars for Scholars chapter—a network of nearly 500 local organizations that raise scholarship funds, establish endowments, provide financial aid assistance and more. All to help students achieve postsecondary success. The vast majority of Dollars for Scholars chapters are volunteer-run, and many students help at their local affiliates, bringing the award and volunteer spirit of communities full circle.

To learn more about the SVA, visit Scholarship America’s website. Stay tuned for our announcement of the National Student Volunteer of the Year!