Johnston Student's Passion Seeks Tools for a Stronger Tomorrow

The first thing Dylan Johnson remembers about his trip to an impoverished area of Kentucky two years ago was wondering how people could live in such a way.

"There were five or six people living in a trailer that was half the size of this cafe (Starbucks)," the soon-to-be senior recalled.

Johnson's first trip to the area with the Appalachia Service Project — a program that focuses on strengthening the homes and communities in the Appalachian region — left a resounding impact on the teen.

This summer he launched his own project, Tools for a Stronger Tomorrow, to collect new and used tools, as well as money for ASP.

Johnson created Tools for a Stronger Tomorrow when he applied and was honored in the Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Scholarship program.

"Even though this project started as a scholarship opportunity, it's really become a passion for me," Johnson said of Tools for a Stronger Tomorrow. "I really do have a personal connection to this. Even though the Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student was the vehicle this started, I'm continuing it by my passion for the project."

For the past two years, Johnson has spent a week working on projects in Kentucky with the Appalachia Service Project through his church, in Urbandale. 

"We're not just making homes safer and drier, it's about building relationships with people that live there," Johnson said. "Their lifestyle is different than what we're used to. They live in complete poverty."

Dylan's time working for the Appalachia Service Project has included building a trench for drainage and building an addition to a house so a family could live together rather than one child walking a mile each day to stay with his grandparents.

"Between both trips there has been this resonating kindness toward us," Johnson said. "The people really appreciate what we are doing and understand we are trying to make a difference there."

So far this summer, Johnson has approached hardware stores, contractors and builders to collect used tools and donations for Tools for a Stronger Tomorrow.

"I use my personal experience when trying to explain why it's important to me," Johnson said of talking to people about his project. "It's a life-changing experience going down there and they show what it really means to be happy."

Johnson will make his third trip to Kentucky on July 14 for a week of service. He'll bring along the tools and donations he's collected so far.

But he plans to continue collecting donations and make a final trip in mid-August.

To donate to Tools for a Stronger Tomorrow contact Johnston at johnsondylan67@gmail.com.

The Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student scholarship program annually identifies up to 15 Iowa high school juniors who propose and then accomplish a project of their choosing and design.

Through the program Johnson will receive $1,000 for participating after giving a presentation in October in Hoover's hometown of West Branch.

A committee of accomplished Iowans will choose three students to win $5,000 college scholarships.

Johnson wasn't the only student to be honored as a Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student.

Mark Gee has spent his summer teaching younger students about plant science. See his story .