Utica Academy for International Studies project is good for the sole

Two students have found a community service project that is good for the sole.

UAIS students Emily Boehm and Katlyn Marck, as part of their required community service activities, collected 761 new or gently used shoes that will be shipped to needy areas around the world.

"We felt it is an area that people don't concentrate on when they think of charity projects," Boehm said. "But this is something that is important for the needy and homeless."

The students began the fundraiser more than a year ago, when they became aware of the international Soles4Souls charity.

The students collected the shoes by reaching out to UCS schools, with nine schools asking their communities to donate to the cause.

When they were finished, Boehm and Marck realized they had a challenge they had not initially considered: how do they get the more than $500 to pay for the shipping of 18 large boxes of shoes.

The solution came in the form of a Cold Stone Creamery fundraiser and a grant for a proposal they wrote to Key Club International.

“What is so admirable and impressive about Katlyn and Emily’s accomplishments is not just the coordination they had with so many schools to collect all these shoes, but also the incredible number of hours they dedicated to fundraisers and grant applications to pay for the expensive shipping costs associated with this project," said Justin Spear, Creativity, Action, Service Coordinator at UAIS. "I am so proud of both of them for their remarkable perseverance.”

As part of their graduation requirements, students at the International Baccalaureate High School are required to perform 150 hours of CAS Creativity, Action and Service.

Boehm and Marck said they felt that required service hours are an important addition to their classwork by developing leadership skills by asking students to work beyond a traditional role of schools.

"I think it broadens the goal of education," Marck said.

UAIS officials said the service requirement also gives students the opportunities to problem solve.