2023 Student Voices, Student Choices was a huge success! Nearly 200 people watched seven high school teams present programs that they created to address local needs. Every one of them did a fantastic job.
Cherry Valley-Springfield won the top prize – $5,000 – for their idea: The HQ, a room in their school where kids in need of hygiene products, household cleaning products, consumables, and access to a clothes washer and dryer, can go and feel safe, welcome and free of judgment. Partnering with the Cherry Valley Food Pantry and working in conjunction with Bassett’s new School-Based Health Center, the students did tremendous work in researching their idea and creating a sustainable program for their peers.
Morris earned $4,000 for their program – establishing a food pantry in Morris in partnership with other local organizations.
Richfield Springs will receive $3,000 for “S.A.S. – Students Adopting Seniors,” a program that encourages social interaction between students and senior citizens.
Winning $1,000 each for their programs were:
- Edmeston – collaborating with Pathfinder Village to bring Pathfinder students and Edmeston students, and the community, closer together
- Gilbertsville – Mount Upton – working with Otsego County System of Care to address mental health issues for local teens
- Milford – connecting students with seniors with a “Senior Buddy Program”
- Unatego – spreading awareness about allergic reactions and the necessity for EpiPens and training in their school
At the beginning of Thanksgiving week, our sponsors and our Otsego County students gave us much to be thankful for.
