Katherine Anne Sullivan

Katherine Anne Sullivan's community dedication reflects who she is, a caring and hard working person who enjoys doing for others. At the age of 14, Katherine gives to many, including animals, children and the elderly. She interns at the Humane Society for 2 year snow. She's very active in community service events with Girl Scouts for over 9 years, she has a Therapy Cat, she volunteers at her school as a math tutor, she is the President of the Student Council, she's on the Band Advisory Board and she also baby-sits and referees soccer games.

As an intern at the Humane Society she walks the dogs and cleans the cat cages. She socializes the cats so they'll more adoptable. She educates the public on an alternative to de-clawing. Her favorite part of the job is helping people find an animal that they will appreciate forever. She also volunteers at their children's event. Katherine was a finalist in the Humane Teen of the Year Award in 2006 for her work in alternatives to de-clawing cats. Katherine just became certified with the Delta Society so she can visit Nursing Homes with her Therapy Cat. Katherine has also forgone birthday presents for herself and instead asked for items to be donated to the Humane Society by her party guests. She inspires others to do the same at their party.

In Girl Scouts she is a Program Aid where she leads/assists at Girl Scout events. Here Katherine can be a leader and a role model to younger girls. She earned her Silver Award in February 2007 by coordinating the planning of a Friendship Dance for over 400 people where she and her troop also collected items for charity – New Beginnings. She helps cook meals for the homeless, collects items in need for any charities. She inspires other troops to also give to the community.

Katherine's work with her peers is very diverse and has begun a long time ago and continues today. Katherine became a Peer Mediator in Ventana Vista Elementary School in the 4th grade. Here Katherine would give up her lunch hour and recess to walk around the school to assist in conflicts among her peers. Fellow students would know they could approach Katherine because all Peer Mediators wore a Peer Mediator T-shirt that identified them as a student who was trained to help. Katherine found the job very rewarding and looked forward to being of assistance to her peers.

Katherine continued to work with her peers in Esperero Canyon Middle School. This school did not have a Peer Mediator Program, but Katherine found other avenues that she could work with her peers. Katherine joined many school related activities so she can get to know many students and be a friend to all. Katherine believes the best way to help others is to lead by example. Teens do not like to be told what to do, so she feels if she is a good role model others will mirror her behavior. Katherine belief has proven correct, she has been recognized by her peers as a person they admire and look up to. Katherine is the President of her Middle School Student Council. As the President of Esperero Canyon Middle School Student Council she coordinates many school and community functions. Katherine's many hours of community service benefit her school in greater safety in the parking lot as a result of painting directional lines, raising money for Diabetes, Animal Shelters, Tsunami Relief victims, less fortunate schools, etc. She was also selected by her teacher to be on the Band Advisory Board. Katherine volunteers after school to tutor students. It's Katherine's work ethic and desire to help others along with her strong academic grades that made her an ideal tutor.

Katherine spends her weekends working as a soccer referee. Katherine played the game for 8 years and when she heard that there is a shortage of referees in Tucson she decided to take the 17 hour training class to help out. She was the youngest person in the room, but that did not bother her. Katherine wanted to help out. It is not an easy job when you have coaches always feel their team is right, but Katherine stands by her "calls". She again is a role model for others.

Katherine believes in leading by example, so her strong Community Dedication inspires others to take an interest in their community too. Many children didn't know they could help, but after seeing all that Katherine does on the weekends they too are helping in areas that interest them.