Anna Breneman
Towson University, Towson, MD, Class of 2026
Community service has been something that has been extremely important to me as long as I can remember. My passion for helping was inspired by my aunt – an individual who would give anything and everything she could to help those around her, even those she did not know. In middle and high school, I volunteered at free community Thanksgiving dinners, created holiday cards and gifts for veterans in my local community, and raised money and donations for a foundation that donates to families of NICU babies. My passion for helping really took off my senior year of high school. During this time, I created a fundraiser at my local high school to donate to our local hospitals Breast Health Center. I developed T-shirt designs, managed the selling and distribution of said T-shirts, went to local restaurants and stores to find individuals willing to donate, and hosted fundraising events. This resulted in being able to raise about $10,000 for the center, and the looks of the women who accepted the donation is something I will never forget. As someone who has seen the devastation that illness and disease can bring – and the stress of the finance on top of the sickness itself, this cause was near and dear to me. This experience led me to understand that my contribution to society would be expanding knowledge on health and wellness and ensuring that all individuals are able to access treatments and answers for their health.
Currently I am participating as a research assistant at my university. The reason I chose this opportunity is because I believe it is providing me the chance to serve my community by doing the work to provide answers for their health-related issues. By doing this research, I provide members of my community the comfort of being heard, and the feeling that someone wants to help them – even if it means putting in the research that could one day provide answers or lead to medical advancements to assist them. In all my interactions I strive to make individuals I interact with feel like a priority and let them know that although they are helping us by participating in a research study, our goal is to one day help individuals such as themselves: they are the reason we strive to learn and grow as contributing members in the scientific community.
Being a part of a change in the field of medicine and health is significant to me because I was raised in a family where access to health-related services was relatively limited due to income. I was not provided chances to attend physical therapy when I was hurt, and many times my parents would go without doctors’ visits because they knew they could not afford the copays or service costs. As I grew up, I noticed the lack of access. It was made especially clear when my mother, a struggling alcoholic, found herself struggling to obtain rehabilitation services, or treatment for the health struggles her addiction brought. After her passing in 2023, my freshman year of college, I made the decision that I would do what I could to ensure that everyone seeking medical help or attention is heard. I have now acted – as a research assistant and within my plans to both intern & volunteer at local healthcare facilities – to become a provider who ensures every voice is heard, and every patient receives the healthcare they deserve. I will continue, from this day forward, to be the change in healthcare and wellness we all hope to see.
Grace Daly
Severna Park High School, Severna Park, MD, Class of 2025
Giving back to my community is significantly vital and meaningful to me. My parents instilled a copious amount of empathy and care for my community into me from a very young age. It is one thing to advocate for change on topics you have immense passion for, but to advocate for others that can’t advocate for themselves is what I find to be the most meaningful. Being the voice for the several members of my club, Best Buddies, is a position I wouldn’t trade for the whole world. I am the Treasurer of the Best Buddies Chapter at Severna Park High School. Within my role, I take on several duties that include organizing fundraising events, contacting organizations, managing finances for the club, and best of all, creating a safe and nurturing place for these individuals to learn and explore. The best part about my position is not only that I get to actively contribute to the betterment of my community, but that it doesn’t feel like a service, or a duty to fulfill, but extremely natural to me.
You see, my connection to the special needs community goes way deeper than what is just seen on the surface. My older brother Carter has autism and epilepsy. Growing up, I never knew anything other than my sole mission in life was to protect my brother and others like him, while also helping them grow as members of society. But, the world can be an extremely cruel and harmful place. As human beings, we are drawn to familiarity, and when we are faced with something unfamiliar, we tend to turn the other cheek. Of course, not everyone is going to be as familiar as I am with the protocol for treating an epileptic seizure, or how to navigate arguments with an autistic brother who simply doesn’t know any better. But it is how we react to these new situations that makes all the difference. When I was young, I would always hear the same phrase from every adult figure. “You are so mature for your age” or “You are so brave”. Brave? Brave for doing the right thing? Brave for simply playing the deck of cards that life dealt me? I am not a saint. It doesn’t take an incredible person to open themselves up to diverse communities such as this one. All it takes is a couple seconds, a simple wave, or a warm hello.
Very recently, I had the incredible opportunity to have a hand in organizing a Unified Dance Formal. We came together to build a space for these kids to express themselves in, and to give them the opportunity to experience a school dance, without bombarding them with a sensory-overloaded environment. We invited the students from all the Best Buddies programs within our county. That night, I met a wonderful young man named Josiah. He grabbed my hand and introduced himself as he does with everyone. He asked me if I liked trampolines. “Yes Josiah, I love trampolines”, I responded enthusiastically. After realizing how perfectly I matched his energy, he cracked a smile so wide you wouldn't believe it. The rest of the night, him and I danced our hearts out. I taught him how to kick his feet and dance, and he twirled me around and around like we were contestants on Dancing With The Stars. We also of course would take intermittent breaks to ask our fellow classmates their opinions on trampolines. Eventually, this night will become a distant memory, and Josiah may not remember my name or my opinions on popular backyard activities, but this night will certainly stay with me forever. It is impossible to express the profound love and care I have for this community. We are all just a plethora of humans living in the same home, and shouldn’t home be a comfortable and safe place, free of judgement and fear? Many of my plans for the future directly correlate with my love for these individuals. I plan to attend a four-year university and major in Psychology. I hope to explore the behavioral and cognitive side of this field. My hope is that one day this could lead me to a career in child behavioral psychology. I wish to further explore the inner workings of the brain and really dive into the biological processes that take place that influence our behaviors. I hope to hone in on working with developmentally disabled individuals especially, as I have set out to do my entire life. Making a difference in my community through this wonderful club is only the beginning, and I will continue to strive and advocate for this community as long as I shall live.
Abby Jeffers
Severna Park High School, Severna Park, MD, Class of 2025
During high school, I have pursued opportunities to lead; have identified the goal of working in Special Education; and, consistent with my values, have developed the confidence to pursue my goal. I am an active member of my school’s Unified Athletics program, where I have become a part of a community dedicated to helping athletes with physical and intellectual differences; and I have become an advocate. I have thrived as I have learned skills and worked toward my passion – helping others. Determined to build upon these experiences, in college, I will pursue a degree in Special Education and will continue my activities supporting youth with physical or intellectual differences. After graduating from college, I look forward to continuing to be an active part of my community as a Special Education Teacher.
My experiences as a leader and mentor/partner in Unified Athletics and Best Buddies throughout high school have established a solid foundation for my future. I have been a member of Best Buddies throughout high school and both the Unified Bowling and Bocce teams since sophomore year. Both of these programs have helped me to better understand the challenges that individuals with learning differences experience and have helped me to develop skills that make me a more effective leader. I value collaboration, commitment, respect, and accountability. I am proud to have been recognized for my commitment to helping others with the “Best Sportsmanship Award” for the 2023 Unified Bowling season. I was also honored to have been recognized for my leadership ability when I was selected as Captain of the Court during the 2024 Unified Bocce season.
My commitment to my values extends beyond the athletic season and has helped to shape how I approach others. Many of my friends from Best Buddies and Unified Athletics will invite their partners/mentors to join them for family celebrations or momentous occasions. I have gone to birthday parties, graduation celebrations, and even one "prom." Often, I am the only student mentor at these events, but I never feel out of place among my friends. Just as I have taught my friends valuable lessons about athletics and social interaction, my friends have taught me lessons about compassion and friendship.
In recognition of my commitment to my work with my friends from my school’s Special Education Program as well as my fundraising efforts dating back to the sixth grade, for the past two years, the Unified Athletics coaches have selected me to accompany our school’s unified athletes to the Polar Bear Plunge, the primary fundraiser for the Maryland Special Olympics.Through these shared experiences, I understand that I have the ability to make a difference.
I will always treasure one such experience that reinforced my commitment to my goals. I met my friend Erin during the 2022 winter bowling season. Erin loves bowling and spending time with her friends, but, because she is nonverbal and primarily confined to her wheelchair, she was unable to become an official member of the team. Nevertheless, her mother brought her to every practice, so she could spend time at the alley with her friends. One day, as practice was nearing the end, I saw Erin watching me bowl. Having gotten to know her through our time together, I knew what her expression meant - she wanted to have a turn, too. I knew what I needed to do. I put my ball down and walked toward her. With her mother's help, I guided Erin to the line and placed her hand on the ball, alongside mine. Together, we let the ball go and cheered as it made its way down the alley. Erin's mother looked at me, and, with tears in her eyes, smiled. Her mother later explained to me that, for the first time, Erin had felt as if she were truly a member of the team. It may not have been a strike, but this day at the bowling alley was much more meaningful. It taught me the importance of helping others; it taught me the importance of being a friend.
At the beginning of my first bowling season, the athlete who I had been paired with, Will, was publicly bullied. The incident had been recorded, and the video went viral on social media. Both my community and I were angry, so, hoping to channel our frustration into something positive, I reached out to my school’s Special Education Program to find out what they needed. Using what I had learned, I organized a successful online supplies drive to support the program. I was proud to have increased the community’s awareness and willingness to become involved.
My experiences in high school and those which I will pursue in college, will bring me closer to meeting my goals of working in Special Education. I commit to never forgetting what happened to Will and to continuing to do everything I can to help others, academically, socially, or otherwise. The Grace Erline Memorial Girls Gone Great Scholarship will help me realize this goal.
Carly Van Schaik
Colonel Richardson High School, Federalsburg, MD, Class of 2025
I am a hometown girl through and through. My mom is a teacher and my dad
has a small business and is a retired farmer. I've grown up watching them be a huge
part of our community. Making a difference in my community is important for families
like mine. When you love your community, they will love you back. From young to old,
making a difference is loving your community. It's setting a good example, being
inspired, staying true to your roots, giving back, and wanting the best for everyone
around you. This is important because we all need each other. Community is
necessary.
There are so many ways to make a difference. One of the most important is
giving your time. I am a Sunday school teacher at my church and a volunteer at various
free events for young kids such as Candy Cane Camp and Summer Blast. I volunteer
to serve at our community's Thanksgiving dinner every year. Each summer I serve as a
kid's camp counselor at an overnight camp. I serve on the worship team at my local
church and the student leadership team at the youth group. I am constantly at the local
elementary school helping with career days and concerts. I volunteer to give
eighth-grade tours of the high school and help freshmen with their schedules. Through
the National Honor Society, I have participated and planned many service projects
including a memorial color run and a book drive. Whatever it may be, I am always
finding ways to give time to my community. This can make a difference in so many
ways. Not only does volunteering help with events physically, but you are also setting a
good example for those around you. Young kids seeing someone they look up to
serving might also inspire them to serve. This creates a domino effect and your
community will be full of young people who serve. Serving your time also makes a
difference just by being there. In life you need community. Just being in the community
and at local events shows you love and support your community.
Making a difference in your community can also happen by representing your
community. Throughout the last four years, I have had the amazing opportunity to
represent my school and community at various programs and events, big and small.
Wherever we go, being extra polite, clean, and respectful makes a difference. This is
important to me in all sports, music, and educational events. People remember your
character and connect your impression to your school and community. Giving a good
impression gives my community a good reputation and that's something I am proud of.
On a larger scale, I have gotten the opportunity to represent my community at the state
level as well. This past summer I went to the Maryland Girls State program and am
currently serving as an ambassador. Most girls are from the western shore and have
never heard of my school, town, or county I'm from. I am proud to say where I'm from
and make a difference by representing my community to others. As an ambassador, I
want to see double the girls from the eastern shore attend next year and continue to
make a difference by representing small towns. I also got the opportunity to serve as a
Maryland General Assembly Page for the 2025 legislative session.
Once again, not many people from the eastern shore get to go and represent. When networking I got to
share where I am from and even talk to people about it. During this experience, I got to
work with representatives from the eastern shore who are making a difference in our
community and surely inspire me. I want young leaders in my hometown to see that if
you're from a small town, you can do big things even at a young age. Inspiring others
and representing your community well makes a huge difference.
I know there are big plans for me. Through my volunteer work, it is clear to me
that I have a passion for teaching. I plan to attend college to get my bachelor's degree in
elementary education, return to my community, and teach in a local elementary school.
It is important to me to come back to where I'm from and pour love and feedback into
the younger generation. I am also passionate about advocating for what's right and
being a mentor. Teachers can have such an impact, especially on young kids. I want to
make that difference in the community I grew up in. I also want to one day be a mom
and raise a family of my own. I know my current actions support my vision for the future
because these actions and experiences are what revealed my dreams to me.