Alexander Botazzi of Tewksbury Recognized for Work with South Carolina Habitat For Humanity

Courtesy Photo: Worcester Academy Students worked with Habitat For Humanity during their annual service learning trip to South Carolina in March.

Alexander Botazzi of Tewksbury, an 11th grader at Worcester Academy, has been recognized for work with Habitat for Humanity in South Carolina. Alexander and fellow students, in partnership with Darlington County officials, spent March break shingling roofs and building homes - an annual tradition for WA’s Habitat for Humanity Chapter.

Alexander and the other students were excited to play a part in having a positive impact on the community and in changing the lives of the families who will someday live there. As members of the Worcester Academy Habitat for Humanity Chapter, they are committed to encouraging students and the community to become more involved in addressing shortages in quality affordable housing.

Worcester Academy Habitat for Humanity Chapter began in 2004 as an affiliate with Metrowest/Greater Worcester Habitat for Humanity. Since that time, Worcester Academy students have raised money for Habitat and taken an annual trip to build and renovate homes across the country each March.

Community service is an important part of a Worcester Academy education. The Academy’s Bernon Family Community Service Program, for example, has helped fund student participation in WA Habitat for Humanity projects.

Most recently, 50 Worcester Academy students received Gold, Silver, and Bronze President’s Volunteer Service Awards from Barack Obama for having completed 100 volunteer hours of service or more. The awards recognize the contributions that Worcester Academy students are making in the city of Worcester and in surrounding communities.

In the past few years, Worcester Academy students have picked up trash and cleaned out community gardens. More recently, Union Hill School opened a new library with $150,000 in goods and services orchestrated by WA’s Destination Imagination Team.

Worcester Academy also sponsors a Neighborhood Scholarship enabling seven students to attend Worcester Academy at no charge. Additionally, when the school opened its new synthetic turf field at the corner of Winthrop and Providence Streets, it opened the facility for daytime use by Union Hill students for recess and physical education classes.

In an ongoing effort to help homeowners, Worcester Academy has also made available $300,000, administered by the Worcester Community Housing Resources, for home improvements in the neighborhood.

The initiatives reinforce the Academy’s role as a leader in the community, working with local stakeholders as a good neighbor.