4 Lower Merion School Students Win MLK Community Service Awards

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — Four Lower Merion School District students received the District’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award at the MLK Afternoon of Service at Lower Merion High School on Jan. 18.

The award recipients were:

Michelle Kelly, Bala Cynwyd Middle School

Michelle has been a devoted member of buildOn since sixth grade. buildOn is an international organization dedicated to building schools in underserved countries and also supporting the local community through various service projects. Michelle has been involved in many fundraisers for non-profit organizations and has worked on beautification projects and art projects in the Lower Merion area. Michelle is also an excellent student and a positive member of the student body at Bala Cynwyd Middle School.

Anna Welsh, Welsh Valley Middle School

Anna is an active member of buildOn at Welsh Valley and the founder and CEO of a thriving company—Little Bags.Big Impact— which combines fashion, recycling and philanthropy. Anna handmakes bags from recycled materials, and donates 15% of proceeds to Tree House Books, which provides free books to underserved youth in Philadelphia. Today, Anna’s company creates clutches, mini-clutches, sunglass cases and more from fabric that would otherwise be thrown out. In just two years, Anna has recycled over 1,000 pounds of fabric and donated enough money to purchase over 1,000 books for children in need.

Tula Childs, Harriton High School

Tula participated in Drexel University’s SeneGambia program along with the University’s Dornslife Scholars in a 3-week program in Senegal and Gambia during the month of August. She was a member of a collaborative team of students and professors from Drexel and other Universities who participated in several projects to promote and improve health outcomes in Africa. Upon her return to Harriton, Tula began her senior project early by spearheading a drive to gather clothing, books, and school supplies to be sent back to Senegal and Gambia through Drexel University.

Lauren Cobitz, Lower Merion High School

When Lauren walks into a room she brightens it with her warm demeanor and kindness. Lauren goes above and beyond to create a sense of community. Her dedication, passion and love for Best Buddies is humbling. Lauren has been involved in Best Buddies since 9th grade year, however has been supporting students with special needs for years. She was just recently recognized for Best Buddies of PA Champion of the Year. She has organized numerous activities through our LMHS community to benefit Best Buddies such as the Best Buddies Ball, Taste Buds, Halloween Party, and Mudroom Activity.

Students from the ten schools in the Lower Merion School District and members of the community took part in the afternoon of service in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Student organizations and the Home & School Associations sponsored a number of hands-on projects for volunteers of all ages.

Members of the Welsh Valley Middle School Jazz Band performed. The League of Women Voters held a voter registration drive.

The projects included creating Valentines for Veterans, no-sew blankets for the interventional radiology department at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, grab-and-go snack bags for the Ronald McDonald House, Dream Flags and dog toys.

Volunteers also wrote letters to children at CHOP and to those receiving food from Philabundance.

Additional projects benefited Broad Street Ministries, buildOn and schools in Senegal and Gambia.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is seen, date and location unknown. (AP Photo)