The Youth Leadership Council (YLC) of The Storehouse Community Center has wrapped up the council’s third year. The group of 50 members of the 2023-24 cohort are honoring this year’s three recipients of the David A. Huerta Student Volunteer Award for the most hours of service Nina Zucconi, 106 volunteer hours (junior, Plano West Senior High School); Theresa Wootton, 90.25 volunteer hours (senior, John Paul II High School); and Sarah Cho, 71.5 volunteer hours (junior, Allen High School).
The 50 YLC students contributed a total of 2,114.25 hours, an average of 42.385 hours per member. Council members also volunteered across the four programs at The Storehouse, serving in the clothing closet, neighbor care, and education programs on their own accord outside of scheduled service days.
"I really never thought that I could be a good leader,” said Theresa Wootton, a YLC squad leader. “I’m not typically extroverted or charismatic, and I’m not super positive. But I found that I didn’t have to try to be something I wasn’t to contribute and to lead. I've been so grateful to be part of such a diverse leadership team, not for just one, but two years.”
Additionally, sisters Leah and Tessa Devasia, a senior and a sophomore, respectively, at John Paul II High School, were recognized for achieving 100 percent attendance by participating in all required YLC activities, including a meet and greet, orientation, a summer volunteer session, a midweek food bagging and planning session, eight service days, and eight YLC meetings.
“My experience volunteering at The Storehouse showed me how much time, effort, and communication goes into running an efficient organization,” said Leah Devasia, senior, John Paul II High School. “I hope to handle my responsibilities as well as The Storehouse staff in college and in my future career!”
Fourteen seniors were recognized for their year of service: Lakshmi Aravindan, Charlotte Blank, Leah Devasia, Matthew Farrell, Justin Goodlin, Katherine Happe, Lauren Latham, Adil Miah, Lupe Oloyede, Ajay Raghavan, Henry Rutnam, Ally Troxler, Theresa Wootton, and Shirley Xinyi Yang.
Additionally, five squad leaders, Charlotte Blank, Leah Devasia, Katherine Happe, Ajay Raghavan, and Theresa Wootton, along with five assistant squad leaders, Ava Henry, Carter Jacob, Blair Neumayer, Ally Troxler, and Henry Troxler, were recognized for their efforts in helping plan and execute the YLC's objectives and activities this past year.
The 2023-24 YLC members represented the following 20 high schools: Allen High School, Frisco High School, Frisco Memorial High School, Harmony Science Academy, Hebron High School, Jasper High School, JJ Pearce High School, Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas, John Paul II High School, Leadership Prep School – Frisco, Lebanon Trail High School, McKinney Boyd High School, Plano East Senior High School, Plano West Senior High School, Prestonwood Christian Academy, Prince of Peace Christian School, Rick Reedy High School, Shepton High School, The Episcopal School of Dallas, and Wakeland High School.
The YLC roster is complete for the 2024-25 year, but all high schoolers are invited to sign up and volunteer at The Storehouse. To volunteer, visit www.thestorehousecc.org/volunteer-sign-up.
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