Editor's Note: This story is part of The Partnership Project, a series of content written in an effort by The Daily News to follow the formal collaboration of Ball State University and Muncie Community Schools.
Every day after school, Lisa Letsinger, the adviser of Muncie Central Schools’ National Honor Society, sees one NHS member checking the volunteer board to sign up for opportunities to serve his community.
While NHS requires students to complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service each year, Letsinger said most of the students go beyond the minimum requirements. Junior Jack O’Day is one of these students.
O’Day has completed more than 60 hours since becoming a NHS member in October 2018.
“He just wants to help people all the time,” Letsigner said.
Like O’Day, the other 46 seniors and 40 juniors that make up Muncie Central’s NHS are visible in the community through their volunteer efforts and involvement in other organizations.
In recognition of just one of the group’s efforts, Muncie Mission Ministries will present Muncie Community Schools’ chapter of NHS with the Golden Sneaker Award at 2:45 p.m. Friday.
For the past three years, the honor society has won this award, which is given to the group with the largest attendance at Muncie Mission Ministries’ Walk a Mile in My Shoes event. This year, the society was represented by 78 walkers.
“[Winning the award] just represents our organization as a whole,” said Allison Polk, treasurer of NHS and president of the 2019 senior class. “We’re always wanting to be out in the community and doing great things.”
In addition to Walk a Mile in My Shoes, NHS members participate in other outreach events, such as Muncie’s Angel Tree Program. In 2018, NHS adopted 11 families from Muncie Elementary to donate Christmas presents to.
NHS also raises money to donate to charities and fundraisers, such as Relay for Life.
NHS began helping with Relay for Life after a member’s mother died from cancer. Since then, the society strives to bring awareness of the students and parents of Muncie Central to the community.
Letsinger said the accomplishments of NHS can be credited to both the hard work and dedication of its members, as well as the guidance of their parents.
“Their parents are amazing parents,” Letsinger said. “They taught their kids fantastic manners and good morals and values and a good work ethic … We could never do what do without their support at home.”
The organization has also been recognized as one of the top NHS chapters in Indiana by the National Honor Society State Summit, and continues to seek out ways to further impact the community.
“Sometimes Muncie Community Schools gets a bad rep,” said Madelyn Evans, senior and secretary of NHS. “It shows that we are here, and we care about out community and there are a lot of good things going on in Muncie Central.”
Contact Kayla Jackson with comments at kmjackson4@bsu.edu.
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