Saahil Ahmed, 2nd year member

Project: Wrapped with Care - With support from teachers at both his middle and former elementary schools, Saahil organized a donation drive by designing flyers and recruiting fellow middle school council members to distribute them. His efforts inspired students to participate, resulting in the collection of 105 blanket throws and 178 pair of socks for Mission 911 of Corpus Christi, a nonprofit that assists people experiencing homelessness and poverty. These contributions provided warmth and comfort to many individuals, making a meaningful difference in their lives during challenging times. Saahil said, “I discovered that stepping up to organize a project takes real responsibility, but it helped me grow as a leader and I feel proud in helping people in need within my community." Sponsor: Christine Bentley, Teacher.

Anthony Foster, 3rd year member

Project: United by Blood, Driven by Kindness - Anthony recruited members of the Sharing the Love Foundation and his family to help him with a blood drive benefiting the Carter Blood Center. He set up a blood drive where eighteen people donated a total of sixteen units, which will allow more people to get the blood they need. This project showed him the importance of blood drives and what the community is willing to do to help people in need. Anthony said, “This experience allowed me to further my knowledge and experience as a leader. It also allowed me to learn about coordinating with a team of people." Sponsor: Marian Stewart, Founder and Executive Director, Sharing the Love Foundation.

Adam Adera, 1st year member

Project: Adam's Holiday Toy Drive - Adam recruited a friend to help him collect 47 new and unwrapped toys for the Exchange Club of Sugarland. In collaboration with a local church, the organization distributed the toys to needy families in the community. Adam said, “I learned that I can make an impact in my community even at my age. I also learned the joy of helping others, it was truly a great experience." Sponsor: Christopher Pryor, Teacher.

Nandini Pradhan, 4th year member

Nandini and two friends collected over 215 children’s books to donate to the organization Books Between Kids. This project helped at-risk children in the Houston area. Nandini shared, “At first I didn’t think that many people would donate, but as the word spread more people donated creating a larger impact than I anticipated.” Sponsor: Sonali Oltikar, Book Club Organizer

Lucile Wilkes, 4th year member

Project: Feeding Our Communities - Lucile led a school-wide food drive and collected 76 canned goods. Lucile and nine of her family, friends, and their parents then spent four hours at the Houston Food Bank packing and sorting boxes of food. Working alongside other public volunteers, everyone packed 25 pallets (22,680 pounds) of food that would later be distributed by the food bank to those in need. Lucile said, “I learned that if you ask for people to help, you will be surprised by the number of classmates that will want to help. Some come through, and some don't, but it won't matter - the main thing is that you put yourself out there, and more than your echo came back." Sponsor: Crystal Jackson-Allen, Public Speaking Teacher.

Gabriella De La Rosa, 1st year member

Gabriella launched "Senior Squad", a service group dedicated to bringing joy to senior residents at Windsor Nursing and Rehabilitation in Raymondville by delivering celebratory cards during major holidays. Gabriella led 20 classmates in the group’s first project, handcrafting Christmas cards for 60 residents at . The Senior Squad plans to continue spreading kindness by creating cards for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day, ensuring seniors continue to feel appreciated and connected to younger generations. Gabriella shared, “I want us to do something meaningful for people who have helped shape our community. Seniors are sometimes overlooked, and I want these cards to remind them that they are valued, special, and loved. Seeing how my friends and classmates were willing to participate in this great effort encourages me that our school is full of leaders and kids who really want to improve our community. I also learned that it’s okay to ask for help when starting something big feels overwhelming.” Sponsor: Victoria Vela, 6th Grade Math Teacher and Coach

Logan Sullivan-Cruz, 3rd year member

Project: The Marshall Food Bank Donation Drive - Logan brought together his school's Student Council and NJROTC to host a food drive in partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank at his school. As part of this drive, they placed red bins from the food bank around campus and posted promotions on social media. In the end, they raised 187 pounds of food for the San Antonio Food Bank. Logan shared, “I was able to learn how collaboration can lead to good outcomes for the betterment of my community.” Sponsor: Adan Nieto, NJROTC Instructor

Neel Chugh, 2nd year member

Project: Canine Care - Neel recruited NJHS students and several friends to help support his service project, Canine Care. Together, they collected over $700 in donations that directly benefited the Plano Animal Shelter, providing supplies and care that the animals needed. The project strengthened Neel’s leadership skills and gave him a deeper appreciation for how community support can improve the lives of rescued animals in need. Neel shared, “Leading this project taught me how to stay organized, communicate clearly, and guide others toward any kind of a goal.” Sponsor: Gema Munoz, NJHS Sponsor

Ethan Lilja, 1st year member

Project: Boxes of Hope - Ethan and seven of his friends partnered with the local non-profit organization ‘Lovepacs’. They decorated 200 boxes with uplifting messages and collected 100 packets of spaghetti to contribute to the food boxes they packed. These boxes provided children with a week’s worth of food while also offering encouragement and positivity during difficult times. The project not only helped meet a critical need for food security but also strengthened compassion, teamwork, and community involvement among those who participated. Ethan shared, “I learned how to work as a team and effectively pack the food boxes in an efficient manner.” Sponsor: Leo McDaniel, Coach

Matilda Lilja, 2nd year member

Project: Lovepacs - Matilda and eight friends decorated 200 boxes with kind, encouraging messages and hosted a drive that collected 100 boxes of macaroni and cheese for the nonprofit organization LovePacs. The donations supported less privileged children and families in Plano ISD. LovePacs recipients receive one week’s worth of food in each box, along with loving, encouraging, and inspirational messages. Matilda shared, “I learned that donating a few hours of my time can leave a significant impact on other people in my community." Sponsor: Stephen Woods, Teacher

Stormi Bennett, 2nd year member

Stormi and her sponsor gathered donations to purchase donuts, breakfast tacos, and drinks which they delivered to the Liberty County Sheriffs Office to show their appreciation for the work they do. Stormi said, "Throughout my service project I learned the more love and appreciation you spread, the more others will follow your lead and want to do the same.” Sponsor: Natalie Gillaspy, Teacher

Drew Breidenthal, 4th year member

Project: Bringing One Smile at a Time - With help from parishioners at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, teachers and staff at Nottingham Elementary, and friends and family, Drew collected more than 125 items for residents of the Ronald McDonald House. The project focused on donations for pre-teen and teenage boys staying at the facility to help bring a sense of home and make their stay more comfortable. Drew shared, “I learned how to lead a group of people in a positive way that brought happiness and smiles to the kids who are going through a really hard time. Smiles are free and I love spreading them.” Sponsor: Stacey Zubair, School Counselor

Hannah Allen, 1st year member

Project: Thanksgiving for Seniors - Hannah and six of her classmates performed a skit about Thanksgiving for adults with dementia. They also made bookmarks and gave them to all the adults and staff who were part of Connect Camp for Adults with Dementia. The small performance and gifts had everyone smiling and laughing as they shared a Thanksgiving lunch. Hannah shared, “I learned through this experience why it is important to make sure I am confident in my choices as a leader.” Sponsor: Lena Francis, Teacher