From WCS inFocus
Both of Tennessee’s Top Honorees in the 2018 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards come from Williamson County Schools.
The awards are a part of the nation’s largest youth volunteer awards program and honors students in fifth through twelfth grades who have shown outstanding volunteerism.
Franklin High School senior Zachary Wolfson and Woodland Middle School eighth-grader Sydnee Floyd each saw people who needed help, and they took matters into their own hands.
Zachary founded Threads of Care, an organization that collects clothing and shoes for homeless teens. Since its foundation, Threads of Care has collected more than 7,300 articles of clothing, more than 600 pairs of shoes and more than $3,000. Zachary oversees a team of 20 student leaders and 180 teen volunteers.
“Zach founded Threads of Care hoping to impact teens in need,” said FHS Assistant Principal Lauren Bauer. “Threads of Care has not only impacted struggling teens, but also our students who participate in the program through fundraisers and clothing drives. It is an organization that has helped develop a sense of empathy within our FHS community. I applaud Zach for his compassion and initiative. He has impacted more teens that he probably originally imagined. We are lucky to have him as a part of the Class of 2018.”
Sydnee has raised money to provide meals for homeless shelters; wrapped gifts for people in need; and distributed supply-filled backpacks for 500 elementary school students.
She’s also been incredibly involved within Woodland Middle by leading the student council in collecting supplies for a school destroyed by a fire, conducting leadership workshops for students and speaking in classrooms about issues like bullying and teen suicide.
“Sydnee Floyd is an example for us all,” said WMS Principal Priscilla Fizer. “Her kindness and compassion is continually apparent as she takes on worthwhile projects, always wanting to do more. With Sydnee’s leadership and positive attitude, she has already made a mark on the world. Sydnee’s life of service is just beginning and we applaud her spirit and tenacity. ”
Both Zachary and Sydnee received $1,000 and a medal from the organization as recognition of their work. They will also travel to Washington D.C. in April to see if they are named one of America’s Top Youth Volunteers of 2018, an honor given to only 10 of the students who attend.
