For the third year, Student Voices, Student Choices kicked off Thanksgiving week. Before a hugely supportive audience at the Slade Theater (Hartwick College), six Otsego high school teams presented programs that they created to address local needs. It was an amazing night, and the students represented their communities well, with creativity and passion.

As in previous years, each team received funding for their projects, winning $2,500 for their cause. The overall winner was Schenevus. Their project, to update and revitalize the Dragon Closet, which provides clothing and hygiene products for students in need, garnered the coveted SVSC trophy.

Other projects were:

• Worcester – The Hygiene Project, creating a surplus of toiletries that are readily available for all students to use, in a new, more welcoming, space.
• Morris – a progress report on last year’s SVSC project, the creation of a Morris Food Pantry, and the next steps, including joining the Regional Food Bank, being open more often, and having a new permanent space.
• Oneonta – assisting the Your Safe Haven (formerly The Lord’s Table) in rebranding themselves as a 501c3 and spreading the word on their services providing food to those in need.
• Cooperstown – building a stronger, more diverse, and welcoming community through a Welcome Home CCS program.
• Laurens – creating a sensory room for fellow students diagnosed with autism or other mental disabilities (approximately 15% of their student body).

Seventy high school students, advisors, and Hartwick College student mentors participated in this year’s program. One school superintendent said, “ I am AWED at how well this event went. Students from all of the participating districts stepped up to the plate to serve their community.”

As they always do, our Otsego County students gave us much to be thankful for.