REBECCA SKLEPOVICH

Rebecca Sklepovich has been striving to make a difference in the area of human needs in a variety of ways. In 1998, Rebecca was elected co-chair of the Youth Service Coalition, a youth volunteer group, and was also elected vice president of the Inter School Council, a branch of the American Red Cross. In both organizations, she worked to address vital concerns in the community through mobilizing teen volunteers to commit themselves to a number of service projects. Projects included holding food drives for the needy, participating in crafts and games with nursing home residents, planning and executing parties and art projects for underprivileged children, assisting with major community events, and having numerous fundraisers to buy holiday presents for the community’s poverty stricken.

Not only did these projects provide joy to all those who directly received benefits from them – they provided a sense of satisfaction to all who volunteered for them. Additionally, these projects contributed to the alleviation of serious social problems. For example, visiting elderly nursing home residents helps them combat loneliness – holding food drives provides nourishment to the hungry – providing activities for underprivileged children gives them stimulation that they wouldn’t normally receive.

Rebecca is still active as a co-chair for the Youth Service Coalition. She is still with the Inter School Council, but completed her term as vice president. Instead, she is now the youth representative for the Red Cross Board of Directors, and voices the concerns of Alexandria’s many youth to the adult board members. She also serves as a youth HIV educator for the Red Cross – teaching other youth in her community about HIV prevention through organized presentations and informal outreach.

Rebecca spends weekly time working with the children of her city. She has been a Brownie Girl Scout leader for four years now, and helps them form into young ladies by teaching them fundamentals for life, introducing them to the idea of service and helping them to achieve their goals. Her work has helped these children to build confidence in themselves and spread happiness to others. Rebecca also serves on a weekly basis as a 4th grade religious education instructor at her church, teaching children morals, values and reinforcing the basics of religion. This helps them to strengthen their faith and love for others.

Lastly, Rebecca has begun a service organization at her school called the Christian Student Association. Though this club is very new (she just started it two months ago) they have already assisted the Red Cross with a toy drive and have several projects lined up for the upcoming months including helping ship bikes to third world countries and making bookmarks for child abuse awareness. In short, Rebecca is a cooperative and hard working young woman whose ideas for service are innovative and original. She not only has personal desire to serve, but motivates others to serve as well, which is perhaps her greatest contribution of all.