Class of 2025

For my lead project, I organized a donation at my dance studio. To prepare for this project, I posted on social media and put up flyers at my dance studio, informing families and children that they could donate slightly used dance clothes, costumes and shoes that would then be sent to a nearby dance studio in need. I chose to do this for my lead project because I know how important it is to have good quality clothing to dance in. Overall, this project was very successful and definitely made an impact in young dancers' lives because of the many donated articles of clothing and costumes. 

For my lead project, I set up and ran the Natick Field Hockey booth at Natick Days. For this, I had to get a permit to have a tent, attend an informational meeting, bring supplies and food, and I organized a group of players to volunteer at different times throughout the day. I stayed at the booth all day with different players and we raised over $1,000 for the Natick Field Hockey program.

I organized and prepared a fundraiser for the Natick Wrestling Association. The fundraiser was a meat shoot where people could win prizes such as various fancy meats. There were other games like ring tosses and putting to win other prizes. I helped organize some of the prizes along with roughly 10-12 wrestler volunteers. Together, we help set up the event, as well as make pizzas for the guests. Overall, this was a fun event to help raise money for the team so we can pay for hotels, transportation, and other needs for long distance competitions and camps.

For my lead project, I attended Equity Co-Op meetings, completed required planning docs, created a slideshow, and taught my other club members about the presentation and how to present it to an audience. I chose this lead project because I not only felt interested in the topics of debunking stigmas in mental health, but I also wanted to bring awareness to the inequities of access to mental health resources, and how this can cause reliance on substances. Alongside the help of another peer, we split up the work for this project, each doing separate tasks to prepare for Equity Day. Through this experience, I became more comfortable taking on a leadership role and stepping up to organize my presentation. This project has allowed me to be the ‘teacher’, and educate students at Natick High on acknowledging these inequities and further encouraging people to get involved and find creative solutions to these issues. Overall, I really enjoyed this lead project as it not only helped me find my voice, but I hope that it will help others find their voice in the community.

For my lead project, I worked alongside my friends to plan and present two sessions for upper and lower-classmen during Equity Day. To prepare for this presentation, I planned and sent reminders for several meetings with my friends to practice presenting and workshoping our presentation. Later on, through interactive activities, prizes, and a slideshow, students were able to learn the importance of learning a language, learn about its origin, and learn how it connects communities. Overall, I really enjoyed being part of this year's Equity Co-op Day. I got to meet many new students during our sessions and had an impact on many who were encouraged to continue taking a language for 4 years in high school.

    For my lead project, I worked with CyberAware, an organization that promotes cybersecurity education to the elderly. I, alongside other people in the NHS, went to Sunrise Senior Living Facility in Wayland to educate the seniors there. Before this opportunity, around 2 years ago, I never fully understood the importance of this issue; only when my grandma would put her phone up to her ear on Facetime. But during our presentation in Wayland, one of the women shared that her friend lost upwards of $50,000 due to a scammer. That's when I knew what we were doing was important. The presentation contained a lot of information on the dangers and how to navigate the online world. After the presentation, the seniors thanked us and said that the information was helpful.

Our project went very well; we were able to organize a group of students and fill three trash bags across the course of our pickups. The areas deep in the forest rarely had anything, but we found that areas near the sides of Route 9 and near businesses/yards had significantly more trash to pick up. We focused on these specific areas for a large portion of our pickup time, hoping to make the town forests a cleaner place. I’m proud to say that we made a positive impact on our community and environment through these pickups.

For my lead project I organized and led a trash clean up day to remove litter and improve the environment around our school. I ended up leading 6 other volunteers alongside myself all around Dug pond to pick up trash. Divided into groups of two, we ended up successfully collecting/filling up around 5 and a half bags of trash total, helping to make a meaningful impact on our local ecosystem.

For my lead project, I organized a trip to a local climbing gym to teach my friends who have little experience with the sport more about climbing and training. I showed them how to climb efficiently and effectively, taught them how to train muscle groups specifically for climbing, and walked them through an intensive climbing stretching session. We had a great time, and everyone left as a stronger climber!

For my lead project, I worked with a fellow student to organize the yearly candy grams for all staff members at Natick High School right before winter break. We bought candy, created over 200 small gift bags and delivered them to the staff members. We did this to show appreciation to all the staff members at NHS.

For my lead project, I co-planned and executed the Build-A-Brick Fundraiser. The purpose of the fundraiser was to sell personalized bricks which will be installed in the front of the high school over the summer, and allow Natick residents to leave their mark. My contribution to this project included contacting and communicating with an engraving company, setting up a website for purchasing and information, and answering questions from buyers. I decided to lead this project because I am graduating this year and want to help people, like myself, make a mark at Natick High School so that they will always remember, even when they have to say goodbye.

For my lead project, I organized and led a leaf raking project in which volunteers helped rake and dispose of the leaves in the yards of elders in my neighborhood. I chose to do this for my community because leaf raking can be a very tedious task, especially for elders. The project kept the local elders safe while simultaneously cleaning up our neighborhood. A few kids around the neighborhood helped with the manual labor of the project. They participated in the raking, making it much more efficient. I believe the volunteers enjoyed the project as they were able to receive community service hours while staying outside and active. The project was very rewarding and successful. In the future, the only thing that I would change is to expand it even further, helping more neighbors!

For my lead project, I led a group of scouts to install information signs on the Henry Wilson Trail in Natick. We installed six signs: four on the ground and two on a wooden kiosk in the trail. These signs described who Henry Wilson was, and the trail's history. I chose to complete this project as I enjoy learning about our country's history, and wanted to do a project that would educate others about it. Before executing the project, we had to mark out where the signs would go, and estimate the amount of supplies we would need, along with how we would get the supplies in and out of the trail. I had scouts from my Boy Scout troop help, and I taught them how to use tampers, post-hole diggers, and Quikrete to install the signs.  The project went very well as we successfully installed all of the signs without any major issues.

For my lead project, I made two portable hand, washing stations, and one full-size jigsaw puzzle of a sheep’s digestive system. I made these projects for the Natick Community Organic Farm preschool program. The project took months of planning, and the construction took over 2 weeks to complete. I am glad to see my projects are currently being put to good use, and furthermore that all of the work was for a good cause.

For my lead project I ran a soccer clinic for young athletes in Natick. We did a few drills that helped them to get better with and without a ball at their feet. I helped to emphasize fun for the young athletes so that they can develop a lifelong love of sport. I really enjoyed the experience, as it was very beneficial for me to better understand how to be in charge of a group of kids.

For my lead project, I worked with Kelly Wasserboehr, Macy Gillis, and Gabby Coelho to create and present a slideshow for the Equity Co-Op. The topic was art therapy and we presented it twice to different groups. Our presentation included teaching the students all about art therapy and mindfulness, playing a review game, and mindful coloring at the end. I thought it went pretty well and I hope everyone enjoyed the presentation and learned something new.

For my lead project, I volunteered a group of other student musicians to showcase ourselves and accompany the visual art at the Arts Extravaganza. For weeks leading up to the day, we rehearsed many times to prepare 4 brass quintet pieces that we could play that were manageable to learn within the timeframe. On the day, we performed at various locations around the school, playing each piece once at each location. Our playing captivated some of the visitors to watch and listen, while others appreciated the other art in addition to our music. This experience taught me about the importance of transparent scheduling, reliable organization, and how the love for music can be passed on through performance.

For my National Honor Society lead project, I led a trash clean-up at Elm Bank as well as Pickerel Pond. Starting at Pickerel Pond we cleaned up around the pond and small dock, moving along some of the open trails and filled up one trash bag, discovering a lot of plastic cups. At Elm Bank my group walked around the parking lots and empty fields looking for any trash and discarded items. After this we then moved on to clean the woods, following the trails.  We ended with two full bags of trash including water bottles, alcoholic beverages and caps, poop bags, even a ripped up car mat, and more. In the end, we were very successful in cleaning up trash and helping our environment. It was a lot of fun because I got to learn more about my volunteer group and we passed a decent amount of natick townsfolk who thanked us for cleaning up, making it a very positive experience overall and something that I do hope to do again. 

For my lead project, I helped organize and run a year-end food drive with Connor Paolucci. With support from the Natick Service Council, we coordinated and promoted the drive, ultimately helping to stock the shelves at the food pantry at A Place to Turn. This experience was insightful, as we learned that the pantry typically faces a decrease in donations during the summer when many people are away on vacation. The project was especially fulfilling because it allowed us to give back to our community in a meaningful and positive way.

For my lead project, I ran the annual Winter Coat Drive at Natick High, Brown Elementary, Ben Hem Elementary, Memorial Elementary, and Wilson Middle School. Partnered with Caring Partners, I spread awareness about the coat drive, set up boxes for collection, and partnered with various community service clubs at schools. At the end of the month, I collected all the coats from every school and brought them to Anton's Cleaners to be cleaned and donated to families in need of coats for the winter. I enjoyed making an impact in my community and helping those in need of winter essentials. 

My Lead Project was running the National Honor Society Natick Days Cakewalk booth on September 7th, 2024. I chose this as my lead project because I'm passionate about giving back to the community and engaging with those who have similar interests as me to make community events fun, proactive, and productive. I also went to Natick Days frequently as a kid, and I want to continue the circle by servicing my community in a way that benefits more than just National Honor Society. Not only did we raise over $1,600 for National Honor Society Stoles and Induction, we also managed to have all the cakes won or bought by the end of Natick Days. I prepared for this project by meeting with advisors, sending out emails, getting the food permit a month in advance, attending the town hall meeting, buying and organizing all necessary supplies, and counting all the tickets on the day of. I was helped by Maura Gifford, Madelyn Goldsmith, and Caroline Guthery in preparing and running the Cake walk, as well ad Mrs. St. Jean and Ms. Marino. We were also assisted by two assist volunteers. It went smoothly, from arrival to the end, and we improvised with storage and organization of cakes and tickets. In the future, I think there are always ways to improve. We could have had another extra table in addition to the two we already had to organize the cakes, as well as ways to weigh down the plates for the cake walk itself.

For my lead project, I worked with the Natick Service Council to organize and conduct a birthday program. To do this I researched different places where we could hold birthday party supply drives, I collected the inventory from those drives, and I organized all the inventory into different categories for the families that needed these supplies. I split up the supplies based on age and type of toy and then put the packages together for them to be distributed. This project helped me strengthen my leadership and organization skills while also helping me learn skills that are necessary. Overall this was a great experience. 

For my lead project, I organized and ran a Halloween themed Beetlejuice movie night to raise money for the GSA. While the fundraising did not go exactly as planned, the organization and actual event went smoothly thanks to the cooperation of everyone in the GSA, particularly the leadership of Vice President Sarah Sharp, Public Relations Head Sage Anderson and our Secretary Gavin Springer, alongside me. We all had a lot of fun watching Beetlejuice and many people decided to join the GSA, too. It was a great experience for all who attended. In the future however, I would check to make sure these events aren't on friday night football games, as attendance to the movie night was significantly limited due to that. 

For my lead project I led a youth basketball team as the coach. As the head coach, my tasks included organizing and running practices, creating lineups, managing players, adding insight/coaching points and fostering a fun environment. I wanted to coach because I enjoyed playing basketball when I was younger and I felt that I could help pass along the lessons I’ve learned about hard work, sportsmanship, and perseverance to younger kids. Through this experience I have also deepened my appreciation for the role that mentors and volunteers play in shaping young athletes. This also allowed me to reflect on all of those people who helped me throughout my athletic journey. My lead project allowed me to give back to a community that has given a lot to me.

For my lead project, I ran a drive to collect school supplies for the Partners for Guatemala Education. The drive ran throughout the month of January into the first two weeks of February. The supplies were then brought down to Guatemala to be donated to elementary and middle school children. I collected items such as markers, notebooks, pencils, scissors, and art supplies. These supplies support students, allowing them to prosper and succeed in their school environment.

For my lead project, I plan to organize a group in my neighborhood to wash cars over the weekend of March 1st. I will gather 5-7 kids that are willing to help wash cars for families and elderly people in our neighborhood. I will make flyers for my neighbors to ask them if they are interested in getting their car washed. I will supply my group of volunteers with car washing supplies and wash as many cars as we can over both Saturday and Sunday. This project went very well. I was able to wash 9 cars with the help of my sister and kids around my neighborhood. I made and sent our flyers the week before March 1st, which took about one hour in total, and allowed us to see who would be home and who wanted to get their cars clean. We spent Saturday washing the cars from 11-4pm, including about an hour of demonstrating what products to use and how to properly wash a car for some of my neighbors who didn’t know.

As a lead mentor in the Wilson Middle School SAM program, I help recruit and train high school mentors while guiding younger student-athletes. I assist in planning sessions on time management, balancing academics and sports, and handling peer pressure. During meetings, I create a safe space for discussions, share my experiences, and offer advice. This role strengthens my leadership and communication skills while making a positive impact on my school community.

Me and fellow helper Ryan Peasley were able to raise and donate an abundance of clothing. We had various donations primarily focusing on formal clothing for people entering the workforce who didn’t have adequate clothing for their interview. We raised hundreds of pieces of clothing and were able to donate them to dress for success. We also made it easy for the people donating, offering to pick up everything from their house to get a larger group of donators. Overall, our drive turn out was greater than anticipated and went way beyond our expectations, we are more than thankful for everyone who helped donate.

For my lead project, I organized a toy drive at St. Patrick’s Parish in Natick during the week leading up to Christmas. After collecting the toys, I delivered them to a Toys for Tots drop-off location. I worked with parish staff to set up the toy drive in the foyer of St. Patrick Church in downtown Natick and arranged for an announcement at Mass, ensuring parishioners were aware of the initiative and could donate toys. 

For my lead project I organized a group of volunteers to create shirts for Camp Arrowhead Residential Camp. This is a camp for individuals with special needs. The project included buying material, assembling, and distributing the shirts to the camp. This was a very valuable and important project for me because I have been volunteering for this camp for the past four years and it was a way for me to make a difference for the camp to benefit the community. 

My lead project of being a hockey coach for a youth hockey team was successful. I enjoyed working with the players and being on the ice with them. I designed and set up drills for practices, and led them as well. Overall, this project helped the kids get better at hockey and enjoy the game, while I was able to give back to the Natick Comets and my community. 

For my lead project, with the help of three other alumni of the Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation (MYL), I organized the 2025 MassSTAR One-Day conference. The conference took place at Dean College in Franklin and offered a day of workshops and deliberate discussion about community and youth leadership across MA in the past, present, and future. Programming focused on the five points of the MassSTAR: Intentionality, Responsibility, Respect, Initiative, and Collaboration and provided the space to get creative, get thinking, and connect with one another. The conference hosted 16 attendees, some being alumni returning after having attended the MassSTAR (STudents Accepting Responsibility) Citizenship Conference in years past, and others being completely new to the program.

My lead project was creating, planning, and executing a basketball training camp for kids in high school to get ready for the season. With preseason for basketball approaching, I wanted to create a space for extra practice and help. This project helped offer extra teaching for girls basketball players who want to get better and a space to meet new people while building team environments. I prepared for this by creating plans for the drills, sending out emails for all people available, getting space to practice at a local spot in Natick, and more. I got help from a few other seniors on my team to help run it. After the three sessions of the camp, it was very successful. There was a large group of girls that returned to all of the sessions and tons of learning happened.

For my lead project I worked with the CyberAware initiative to educate senior citizens in my community about cybersecurity. Some of my peers and I gathered at the Sunrise Senior Living facility in Wayland and gave a presentation to some elderly folks about how to avoid getting hacked or scammed online, and how to instead keep themselves and their information safe instead. The seniors let us know that the presentations were very informative and helped them learn new things. 

For my lead project, I organized a local shoe drive. All proceeds went to Soles4Souls, a non-profit, opportunity driven organization. The lead project went well, although it could have gone better. I advertised with paper flyers around the stairways as well as promoted the shoe drive using the morning announcements between March 24th and March 28th. After donating only 5 pairs of shoes, my impact was still significant, I was able to divert 6 ¼ pounds from going to local landfills while also creating $45.25 of economic opportunities for families and communities in need.

For my lead project, I organized a park clean up at John J. Lane Park, a very busy spot in Natick that has walking trails, sand volleyball court, playground, and a local garden. This park is a very popular spot in Natick and that being said trash accumulates very quickly around the area. I gathered five of my friends together to go help pick up trash all around this park. We did this over the course of two days, leaving this park much cleaner than how we first found it. I love being able to help out the community especially in an area where so many people find joy in the outdoors. 

For my lead project, I chose to run my own night of Natick’s Open Door. Open Door is a free community meal for anyone in Natick looking for a hot meal and meet new people. My family and I have been helping out with Open Door for many years now so it was an easy choice for me when deciding which lead project was best for me. To ensure this night went as smoothly as possible, I planned out the appetizer, dinner, and dessert in advance. My neighbors, friends, and family volunteered to help. The night exceeded expectations! Many were appreciative for a hot meal and a friendly face to talk to. It also brought a large sense of community and belonging. I heard many people say that Monday’s are their favorite night of the week because of Open Door. 

For my lead project I ran both the Natick field hockey and girls ice hockey booths. In preparation, I sent out emails which included sign up sheets for materials for our booth and shifts for the players to cover, I worked with other captains and parents to make sure we were ready for the day, and I made signs for the hockey booth to promote. On the day of Natick days, I arrived at 8 to help set up. I spent half of my day at the hockey booth which entailed setting up the popcorn machine, scooping popcorn, and monitoring kids in the bouncy house. At the field hockey booth, I picked up pizzas, helped serve them, and organized the money. The day was very successful for both teams and as a final result hockey made around $900 and field hockey made around $1.000.

For my national honor society lead project, I created and organized a donation competition drive between the girls and boys Natick high cross country team for Rosie’s Place (a woman's safe haven/homeless shelter). I spent about a week organizing and getting the project approved from both head coaches and captains of the girls and boys teams. The drive was supposed to go on for about two weeks but ended up going on for four, which was great! It originally was going to just be a regular donation drive but once it was turned into a girls vs boys team everyone wanted to chip in. The competitive nature between the two teams was great, collecting nearly 70 items to donate.

For my lead project I planned and presented a slideshow for Equity Co-op day. My presentation was on girls education in the Gambia. I worked hard with another student to find information and details that would be beneficial to the presentation. I taught 4 classes of students about some crucial parts of education that those girls in the Gambia miss out on. As well as all of the other resources that are hard for them to afford/find in the Gambia. This was a very rewarding experience and I hope all the students learned a lot.

For my lead project I organized a Preschool Reading program at NHS. As the organizer of this program, I was responsible for coordinating with the Principle of the Natick Preschool and Preschool teachers to devise a reading schedule. In addition, I communicated with my peers, organizing a signup-system to get readers. I was responsible for choosing the books that would be read and overseeing scheduling with the availability information provided by those interested in reading. By creating this program I was able to help foster connections within the Natick High School community, helping to merge the divide between the high school students and preschoolers. Not only did the program help create unity within our school, but it also was enjoyable for both the preschoolers and those who volunteered to read. I really enjoyed seeing the connections highschool students made with the preschoolers and hope the program continues to grow in the coming years!

For my lead project, I worked with Madeleine Hillier and we set up the concession stand for the Redhawk Foundation Mini Cup. This project helped the community by getting donations for the Redhawk Fest we have at the end of the year for 9-11 graders. First, we made a flyer to help with donations for the stand and promoted it by posting it and putting it on the morning announcements. We tried our best to get as many donations as possible. Keri Clark, the founder of the Redhawk Foundation helped figure out the problems that we had. I think that it went great, we got a lot of donations and many people came to our concession stand. In the future, I would like to try to get more donations from people, and have more people know about this event to get even more donations for the Redhawk Fest.

Anna, Lila, and I ran a workshop for Equity Day. We designed a lesson on Sustainable Urban Development and Green Spaces and presented it to two classes of about 10-15 students. Our project included a slideshow on our topic, defining what our topic is, its benefits, innovations, and ways students can implement green spaces in their own homes. Our project also consisted of a class activity in which students designed their own sustainable cities. We also had them do a Kahoot. My group led the class in various activities, answered questions, and organized the lesson. The goal of this project was to teach interested students how they can contribute to healthier spaces and create environments that reduce carbon emissions. We ultimately want students to learn more about the impacts of urbanization and how city planning can favor the use of clean energy sources and green spaces in order to benefit the overall environment socially, economically, and environmentally.

For my lead project, I organized the seating arrangement for the National Honors Society induction. I chose to do this because I wanted to help out with the induction planning. I had to arrange each person in alphabetical order and make sure they walked across the stage in the correct order. This included recruiting others to help in the process of setting up the name cards and printing them out, as well as having people lead smaller groups. The majority of this project was creating the seating chart, and making sure each person was included and in the right spot. Some of the allotted time was creating materials to create a smooth transition from the lines to seats. Something I would change would be to find a better way of showing and explaining how the seating chart is supposed to work and be organized. It was hard to wrap my head around how it should flow at first, but after sometime I got the hang of it. Overall, this process was beneficial for me because it taught me how to lead a large group of people, and make a difficult idea come to life.

For my lead project, I organized a book drive to donate to the patrons of the Natick Service Council. They will be able to take home free books of their choosing, which they might not be able to otherwise afford in bookstores, during their monthly pantry visits. Having this free access to books may help with necessary English skills that are helpful in finding jobs in the community.

I was able to collect a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books for all ages. Overall, the drive was very successful, however I was hoping to be able to donate an even larger number of books.

For my lead project, I volunteered to create a highlight reel for Natick High School's Unified Basketball team. This video promoted the Unified Basketball team and showcased the player's best moments. Milo Giordano and I went to the games and practices to film clips of the team and conduct interviews with the athletes and coaches. Then we edited the footage we recorded from the games to create the final video. By the end of the season, I learned a lot about the Unified Sports program and enjoyed the community.

For my lead project I ran and organized a dance costume and dance wear drive at my dance studio. I had reached out to all the students' families and teachers, and asked if they would be able to donate any lightly worn dance costumes or dance clothes and shoes. After a week of obtaining the donations I mailed them out to the organization, Movement4All, which gives out all of the donations to low-funded dance programs in the Boston area. 

For my NHS lead project, I ran a used sports equipment drive that collected donations from Natick residents. I reached out to numerous different companies to see who would want used sports equipment. I worked with Pickupplease, an organization that took the equipment on behalf of Vietnam Veterans of America. I called and coordinated with them scheduling a time for the pick up to be made. Then I got the word out on the Natick Moms Facebook group and was able to get a dozen bags full of sports gear. It went very well and I enjoyed helping organize a drive that would help give used sports equipment to those who need them along with helping Vietnam Veterans.   

For my lead project, I decided to prepare homemade meals and distribute them to people in the need in the Greater Boston area. I planned and cooked the food, contacted shelters, community fridges, and soup kitchens to determine where to give out the food. Then, I drove to these places and gave out the food, also giving some to people in need we found along the way. Overall, we were able to help a lot of people by providing them with a home-cooked meal.

My lead project for Natick High’s National Honor Society was to help, along with three others, organize and allow the Induction Ceremony to run smoothly. I chose to help plan induction because I wanted to provide something meaningful for peers, and this project would allow me to do that. My project allowed for everyone in the National Honors Society to be able to be inducted into the chapter as smoothly as possible. My fellow leads and I started preparing for this event in May, and then the preparations were ramped up at the end of October and the beginning of November. As we worked on this project, Ms. Marino and Mrs. St. Jean assisted us greatly, guiding us and providing us with past experiences. Thankfully, despite a few initial hiccups, like a few short windows to work, everything about the ceremony went smoothly. If I were to go back and do it again, I would like to have more time to work, but that was inevitable with the situation we were in. 

For my lead project, I ran STEM workshops at Natick elementary schools to teach students about engineering and the design process. We did this through activities like obstacle courses and engineering challenges (spaghetti towers, index card towers). Through this program, I hope that I have inspired the kids and sparked an interest in STEM so that they can pursue it in the future.

For my National Honor Society lead project, I facilitated a “Loved to Death” workshop aimed at educating parents on the importance of healthy relationships and violence prevention. This initiative was inspired by the tragic story of Lauren Astley, a young woman from Wayland who was tragically murdered by her ex-boyfriend, and it focused on raising awareness about relationship violence. To prepare, I participated in training sessions, which helped me to engage with parents on this sensitive topic.

For my lead project, I went to the Wilson Middle School to help tutor and mentor a group of 3 middle school METCO students in various needs and subjects. I was able to support the students in their work, helping them understand various school materials, and planned a couple of extracurricular activities to do with them, such as arts & crafts and basketball. It was a fun time for all of us that allowed me to create a stronger bond with the students, and the experience motivated them to make a change and better themselves everyday going forward.  

For my lead project I helped run a book drive for old used books from students and members of the community. My partner and I drove countless hours around Natick to collect and donate used children's books. After collecting we coordinated with elementary schools and the library to provide them to kids. Our book drive was very successful and in my opinion beneficial to the community. 

For my lead project, I planned, filmed, and posted content for the Jewish Teen Initiative Boston Instagram Account and planned engaging programming and events for teen leadership fellows of the organization to foster a closer Jewish Community and the next generation of Jewish advocates. With the social media content, the account received hundreds of thousands of views and likes and overall engagement went up over 1000%.

For my lead project, I chose to present at Equity Co-op Day and organize the presentation prior to Equity Day. I attended many equity meetings, created my presentation alongside one of my peers, taught how to give the presentation to my group members, and communicated with the advisors of the Equity Co-op. I gained skills in organizing and communication, and learned about my topic in order to present it to my peers. This project was very rewarding because I got to see my work in action, and saw the appreciation from my peers of the presentation I created.

For my lead project, I took advantage of my volunteer role as a teacher helper at Temple Shir Tikva, and led the class.  With permission from my teacher and organizer, I was able to create lesson plans and teach kids about important Jewish and life values in fun and exciting ways.  I ran activities and games, created worksheets, found videos, and managed a classroom of 12+ 5th graders, for hour long periods of time.  This was a fun and fulfilling way to meet my lead hours requirement.  I learned how to be more responsible, flexible, and a better leader.

My lead project was a Golf Marathon fundraiser. Each participant pledged to play 100 holes of golf through the month of November in order to raise money for the charity Tailored for Education (TFE). TFE uses all of its donations to provide locally made school uniforms to children in less fortunate countries. I chose this charity because I believe that children around the world deserve educational opportunities regardless of their economic circumstances. Through golfing and fundraising, we raised over $3,000 and provided 106 school uniforms to high school students in Kenya, giving them the opportunity for a proper education and a brighter future.

For my lead project, I helped coordinate and run a Cake Walk booth at the Natick Days event on behalf of National Honor Society. Alongside other National Honor Society members--Caroline Guthery, Madelyn Goldsmith, and Rex Caruso--we planned the logistics of the booth. With the goal of fundraising for graduation stoles, the event was a fun way for community members and NHS members alike to participate in a game and help the organization raise money for its student members. I have always enjoyed going to Natick Days and have volunteered for other organizations in the past as a way to give back to the community, so helping with the Cake Walk was a fun way to help both Natick as a whole and National Honor Society. Prior to the event, I helped coordinate what materials were needed, including things like tables and decorations for the booth, as well as more technical things like permits, and also helped organize sign-ups/drop-offs for National Honor Society members to bring 2 cakes each to the booth for players to win. During the actual event, I helped organize the cake tables, fill out assist forms, collect tickets and cash, and explain the game to players. Overall, the booth was very successful as we were able to raise just over $1,500. Community participants seemed to enjoy the fun of taking a chance to win a game and many people came back throughout the day to play. The rest of the Cake Walk coordinators all had fun as well and we all collaborated to make the event a fun success for everyone. 

For my lead project, I managed a mini golf event and collaborated with the Red Hawk Foundation organization. With my project, I reached out to many organizations and groups and then helped set up and manage the volunteers on the day of the event. Overall it was a great experience and I learned alot about what it is like to be a manager and work with what you have. The event was extremely successful and fun!

For my lead project, I worked with some peers to create a Theatre Showcase. Our goal was to show off the talent in the program and raise money for technical equipment that we need. To prepare, Maya Rodriguez and I met multiple times to send out emails and sign up forms, get the technical aspects together, and arrange the music and solo assignments for the group songs. Then, we led a rehearsal to teach everyone involved the group songs and their solos. After that, we met early the day of the showcase with Lili Temper to get the auditorium set up and rehearse one more time with the full group. It went great and we were able to raise almost $500. In the future, I would make sure to allot myself and my fellow leaders more time to be able to prepare. 

For my lead project, I volunteered to film and edit a highlight reel for Natick High School's Unified Basketball Team. Keira Donaghy and I attended each game to capture their team spirit and their best plays on camera. At the end of the season, we cut together a compilation of the best moments, as promotional material for the team which was also enjoyed by the community. Keira and I both have a lot of experience in video production, so it was great to use our skill sets to enhance the Unified season. We also conducted interviews of the coaches and athletes, and I learned a lot about Unified sports along the way.

For my lead project, I partnered with Cyberaware, a non-profit that educates seniors on online safety. I chose this project because I wanted to help protect elderly individuals from phishing scams, as they are one of the most vulnerable groups. This project addressed a need in the community by providing seniors with the knowledge to protect themselves online. To prepare, I used a presentation as well as an interactive game, and Cyberaware supported me with materials and guidance. The project went well, and I was able to educate the Avenu Senior Community, answer their questions, and share resources on avoiding internet scams. In the future, I would like to continue presenting at other locations to help broaden the impact of this organization. Overall, the project was successful and made a positive impact on the community.

For my lead project, I led a running class for school-aged children alongside Alison Jennings and Audrey Lin. In this class, the kids learned how to stretch, do starts, dynamics, hurdles, and relays. Not only did we emphasize the importance of running, but also motivated and created a positive and fun atmosphere. We emphasized the value of teamwork through relays while also the value of self motivation when running alone.

For my lead project, I worked with other NHS members to run and organize the Natick Days cakewalk. The cake walk helps to raise money for the NHS. Prior to the day, I helped coordinate what times people would bring cakes, made the plates for the walk, and brought materials to the center. Overall, we raised a lot of money and it was a super fun day.

 For my lead project, I ran a fundraiser where parents and students can buy a brick that will go in walkway in front of the school. They get to customize what they can ingrave on bricks. All profits go to the principles fund where this money is used to better the school.

For my lead project, I collaborated with another member of the National Honor Society as captains of our recreational BAYS soccer team to host pasta dinners as a part of bonding and fueling ourselves for our games. We got together and prepared multiple pasta dinners throughout our season and got to know our teammates better. When I hosted, my parents were very beneficial in helping me cook and prepare everything else. It was a very successful and an amazing experience, as I believe it helped our team communicate better while on the field and become a stronger team overall. 

For my lead project, I hosted a toy drive for Birthday Wishes. Birthday Wishes is a nonprofit organization that throws birthday parties for kids who can't afford their own. I chose to partner with Birthday Wishes because I have worked with them in the past in assembling birthday boxes with donations. I prepared for the drive by making flyers and hanging them around my neighborhood. My dad helped me advertise by making a Facebook post, and my mom helped me stay on track. Overall, it went very well and I received many donations of new toys and games that Birthday Wishes was excited to have.

On October 6th and 9th, I organized two groups of volunteers for each day to assist me in the cleaning of Doug pond. During the first wave of cleaning we accomplished cleaning the opposite side of Doug from the hockey rink. A populated area where people fish. I led the group in this task and navigated around blocked off areas to make sure we were picking up everything we could. The second wave of cleaning involved the Natick High School Fishing club. The group of guys came to the Doug Pond boat launch to meet me. The Doug Pond boat launch is a very populated area with children, fishing, pets, and people leisuring in the summer. When the winter comes around all that trash gets left behind. All trash bags and gloves were supplied by myself. We were able to grab close to all the trash. Making sure that our pond stays clear and our wildlife stays clean.

For my lead project, I, alongside several National Honor Society members, planned and ran the Natick Days Cake Walk. The Cake Walk ended up raising $1500 for the National Honors Society graduation sash, largely cutting down the prices to acknowledge their hard work at graduation.  In the lead up to the event, I attended the Natick Days mandatory meeting, organized spreadsheets to make sign up and coordination for the drop off of hundreds of cakes run smoothly, and purchased and gathered supplies for the event, like ticket bowls and decorations. On the day of the event, my tasks, which split with my teammates, were to aid in setting up the tent and decorations and coordinating the drop off of cakes (each NHS member was required to drop off 2 cakes). Finally, I helped in the actual running of the game, explaining how it worked to participants, rolling the dice, starting and stopping the music, and enthusiastically gathering more people to play. 

For my lead project, I organized the seating arrangement for the National Honors Society induction. I chose to do this because I wanted to help out with the induction planning. I had to arrange each person in alphabetical order and make sure they walked across the stage in the correct order. This included recruiting others to help in the process of setting up the name cards and printing them out, as well as having people lead smaller groups. The majority of this project was creating the seating chart, and making sure each person was included and in the right spot. Some of the allotted time was creating materials to create a smooth transition from the lines to seats. Something I would change would be to find a better way of showing and explaining how the seating chart is supposed to work and be organized. It was hard to wrap my head around how it should flow at first, but after sometime I got the hang of it. Overall, this process was beneficial for me because it taught me how to lead a large group of people, and make a difficult idea come to life.

For my lead project, I was a core volunteer for the Natick TOPSoccer program. In this program, high school student volunteers are paired and complete soccer drills with athletes who have various physical and intellectual disabilities. With my role of core volunteer, I took on the organization of our sessions, including emails to volunteers, selection of drills, and pair-ups with athletes. Furthermore, I helped lead the sessions and make sure everyone was engaged and having fun. I chose TOPS to be my lead project because of the impact I was able to have on the lives of many young athletes with special needs. My role not only helped me learn greater communication skills through conversations with volunteers and athletes, but also the importance of supporting others in your community and how rewarding it can be to do so.

This past summer I led the girls basketball team in making shirts for the summer camp we ran at Wilson. I had to communicate with many sponsors to see if they would sponsor us and be put on the back of our shirts. I also had to figure out how many shirts we needed, what sizes to get, and figure out a simple design for the front. I also had to establish a timeline to get all the shirts ready by the start of camp. Overall, I learned the importance of taking charge on a project. 

For my lead project, I co-led a lead project with Joey S. and Jackson B. to clean up the forest trails of the Hunnewell Town Forest. We picked up all the trash covering the trails of the Hunnewell town forest, and also cleaned up around Pickerel Pond. We were able to fill up multiple trash bags doing so, and the trails ended up looking a lot cleaner at the end. There still is work to be done, as trash is constantly being littered each day, but we significantly reduced the litter on our local trails, making our project a success. 

For my lead project, I organized/ran donations for snacks and drinks, and helped sell them at the Redhawk Mini-Cup on 3/29/22 at NHS. I created flyers, distributed them throughout the school, and posted them on social media platforms. I also coordinated with the NHS staff in order to secure a spot for donations and promote them on the morning announcement. I managed the donations each day, and made sure they were organized and in order. On the day of the Mini-Cup, I set up the snacks and drinks at the concession stand and helped sell them over the course of the event. Once the event was over, I helped to pack up the remaining items for future Redhawk events and the NSC Food Pantry. Overall, this was a challenging yet rewarding experience, and it provided me with valuable experience which I can use to expand my leadership skills in the future.

For my leaf project I organized a fundraiser for the Flutie 5k that took place in October. I designed and created a fundraising page in preparation for the race and collected money through this page. I raised over $500 and all of the proceeds went directly to the Flutie Foundation for Autism which helps families and individuals affected by Autism.

My project was to gather consumable donations and serve them for the Framingham and Natick Band Breakfast. Through the PMA (Parent Music Association), Evan Simon, Charlie Koons, and I gathered donations from Dunkin Donuts, Bagel Table, Einsteins, and Muffin House.This project made me realise the effectiveness of a strong community—a community where people give, share, and support each other.

For my lead project, I led a running class for school-aged children with Sarah Golden and Audrey Lin. In this class, we helped the students reach new levels in their athletic abilities to become faster, stronger, and more confident. They were taught strategies on how to pace, sprint, and improve stamina. Students were introduced to other track and field events like hurdles, shot put, javelin, and starting techniques. Additionally they learned the importance of proper hydration, stretching, and drills. We fostered a welcoming and positive environment where the kids were able to reach their full potential!

For my lead project, I planned and helped organize the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony at Natick High School with three other people. I sent emails, set up decorations, and printed out reserved seating signs to ensure everything was organized. I also coordinated with the custodians to make sure the auditorium and cafeteria were set up properly. Despite some challenges, the night went smoothly, and it was rewarding to see all our hard work come together.

This project was a prolonged food drive across multiple locations, with the donated food going to the food bank, "A Place to Turn". The food was collected and brought back to "A Place to Turn". The food donation boxes were assembled with the help of volunteers from the Natick Boy Scout Troop 7. The food boxes were then placed at Donelan’s Market, Fell’s Market, and Tilly’s & Salvy’s Bacon Street Farm. Throughout the duration of this project, over 150 pounds of food were raised. Throughout this project I learned how many people are willing to help others.

For my lead hour project I helped plan and organize the Natick Relay for Life, a 5k that raises money for the American Cancer Society. My primary role was creating a facebook account to advertise the relay and provide resources for those interested in entering. The Natick Relay for Life was an overnight event prior to Covid, and this year was the first time it was a 5k, so we had to put in a lot of work to make that transition. In order to make our relay successful, I reached out to sponsors, collaborated with sports teams, pitched game ideas, created social media accounts, and helped plan the route. I really enjoyed this project because it's a really special opportunity to not only raise money for cancer, but also give respect to cancer survivors and those who have passed. Being able to collaborate with cancer survivors and those who have lost loved ones to cancer was a very eye-opening and rewarding experience.  

For my National Honors Society lead project, I created a website for the Natick High School ASL (American Sign Language) club, which I co-lead as president. I chose this project because I wanted to raise awareness about the importance of ASL and make it easier for students to access resources and information about the club. The website fulfilled a need for better visibility and accessibility for the club, helping more students get involved and learn ASL. To prepare, I researched web design and gathered input from others on what features would be most useful. My club advisor also guided me throughout the process. The project went well, and I was proud of the positive response from students. If I could do anything differently, I might involve more club members in the initial design process to get even more perspectives on what would make the site helpful.

For my lead project, I worked alongside Evan Simon and Toma Iwakura to organize and hold a Thanksgiving breakfast for the bands of both Framingham and Natick High Schools. We went around to various companies in Natick on behalf of the Parent Music Association and received donations for a breakfast on Thanksgiving. On the day of the breakfast, we were able to use all the donations we had garnered to feed all of the members of both bands and bring them closer together. I am glad I got this opportunity as it has allowed me to see how tight knit of a community Natick and how easy it can be for communities such as Natick and Framingham can come together. 

For my lead project, I presented and designed a presentation for the Equity Co-Op on behalf of Model UN for the third year in a row. This year, we decided to focus on learning about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These are goals set by the United Nations to address wide-ranging global issues by 2030. This is especially relevant to Model UN as we not only role-play as delegates in the UN but also discuss important topics covered in the SDGs such as climate change and poverty. For our presentation, we gave an overview of Model UN and the United Nations. We then focused on #7: Affordable and Clean Energy, #10: Reduced Inequalities, and #12, Responsible Consumption and Production. The participants are then tasked with applying these goals on a smaller scale and are supposed to create resolutions to let Natick adhere more closely to the SDGs in a Model UN-style debate. This is really important as it allows us to look at these larger, seemingly distant issues and apply them to local issues and cases. It increased participants’ knowledge on security, safety, and equality issues the world is still facing today, both in developing countries and in Natick itself. They were able to find and present realistic solutions to real-life situations. The interactive, discussion-style nature has been successful this year and past years as it has allowed students to get a more hands-on experience. It encourages healthy debate and allows our participants to be fully immersed rather than passively listening to a lecture or presentation.

For my lead project, I helped to design and distribute merchandise with the Redhawk Foundation. The money raised was then used towards the foundation's support of youth sports, as well as supporting their marathon runners. When I first reached out to the head of the Redhawk Foundation, Keri Clark, we discussed what kinds of projects I could take on to help out the Foundation. I ended up choosing to help out with this specific project as it incorporated my own interests, art and design, with the needs of the Foundation. I worked back and forth for a few months with Keri to settle upon the best possible designs, which she then helped me to manufacture. I then attended the Redhawk Foundation's Mini Cup event. At the event, I helped to set up and held a booth where I worked to distribute the merchandise I had designed and help bring more awareness to the foundation and their cause. Through this event, I was able to speak to many different people within the Natick community, including some of the marathon runners I was raising money to support. I feel that this project was a success and I'm grateful to have been able to lead this project. 

For my lead project, I helped train student crew members how to correctly operate the lighting equipment at the high school. I worked closely with Mr. Ballard, the tech director, to send out emails, create forms, and schedule times for students to learn after school. Mr. Ballard and I decided that the Head of Lights role means more than just operating the lights for theater shows; the role should include training new members and mentoring new candidates before it's my time to graduate. I chose this for my lead project because I have a true passion for lighting, and I'm proficient in the industry standard equipment. This project was a great success, and more students know how to operate lights than ever before, ensuring everyone knows what to do on their own. In the future, I would have liked to have them run their own lighting gigs and shows so they can gain real experience."

For my lead project, I facilitated a drive for the organization Birthday Wishes. Birthday Wishes is local to natick and their mission is to provide homeless and underprivileged children with the joy of a birthday party. I focused my drive on gifts for young toddlers, which consisted mainly of pajamas and books. I reached out to my friends and family for support and was able to raise more than 400 dollars worth of donations.

For my Lead Project, I led a class of young kids and coached them in technical practices and speed runs. I chose this project because running is a big part of my life and I wanted to help inspire the younger generation. I created workout plans and led the group through warm ups and example runs. It was amazing to see all of the kids being eager to improve their times and how enthusiastic and energetic they are. 

My lead project was creating and presenting a presentation on "The History of Racial Inequality in Healthcare” on Equity Day. I chose to do this for my lead project because after reading the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, I wanted to share Lacks’ story and highlight racial disparities in healthcare that are still prominent today. During the presentations, we had meaningful conversations regarding the topic's historical foundations and current relevance through talks and ethical discussions. After the presentation, students were better able to comprehend how race affects healthcare quality and accessibility. I prepared for this project by designing and creating this presentation with Claire Mukigi, my project partner. I practiced presenting at home and at school with Claire. In addition, I also attend Equity Co-Op meetings throughout the year. The presentation went very well. I would not do anything differently in the future.

For my lead project, I helped organize and manage a kids swim clinic. This entailed finding a pool, creating a flier, advertising the clinic, creating the practices, and finding coaches to help out. I worked with members from both the boys and girls high school swim teams to teach the kids aged 6 to 12 how to improve their water confidence and swimming abilities. I chose this as my lead project because I have been competitively swimming for many years so I was able to apply my own skills to teach the next generation of swimmers. Even though the thunder on the first day closed the pool and made us move inside, we were able to do dryland workouts, play games with the kids, and watch olympic swimming. The remaining days of the clinic were successful and there was a lot of positive feedback from the community.

For my lead project, I organized and ran a bake sale for the Unified Basketball program, at the Redhawk Roundup Tournament, to raise money for future events, merchandise, and any other important purchases. I chose to do this because I’m a member of the Unified community and want to give back. In order to prepare for this fundraiser, I coordinated with the coaching staff, teachers, members of the team, and parents. I sent out an email regarding what I’d like to achieve with a sign-up sheet for volunteers to donate baked goods. I also created posters with a list of the baked goods and their prices, allowing either cash or venmo. Lastly, I prepared baked goods and managed the sale from beginning to end as well as collecting all of the funds. With the help of parents of the athletes on the team, teachers, and coaches, I was able to have a successful bake sale and raised a total of $412. 

For my lead project, I volunteered to help organize the Polar Plunge for the Special Olympics and Student Council. I chose to do this because I participate in Unified Sports at Natick High School and want to support other schools' ability to have the same programs. Inclusivity and school spirit are very important to me, and the Special Olympics is a great way to encourage these at school. Overall, this project went really well and many people participated. If I were to do it again, I would do most of the same things but encourage more people to participate. 

For my lead project I operated a food drive to benefit the Natick Service Council's food pantry. The Natick Service Council food pantry provides nutritious food, toiletries, and other supplies to local families in need. Something I learned from this project is that even individuals can make a huge difference. Each donation I receive from friends or other members of my community will have a direct and immediate impact. I encourage others that may feel their actions are in vain to push forward and continue in their pursuit for the greater good.

For my lead project I ran the National Honor Society booth during Natick High School’s Step Up Night for incoming freshmen in April of 2024. I chose this project because I found it very important and necessary for families to understand the hard work it takes to be a part of the society, and in doing so, the dedication it takes to bettering the community. My co-planners and I created pamphlets for families that informed them about the requirements and activities for Natick’s National Honor Society. We also made posters, bought decorations, and made sure the booth was welcoming and inviting for people to ask questions about the society. This experience thoroughly allowed me to build confidence while presenting new information, as well as a nice time to meet some of the new students in the school. 

My lead project was a Coat Drive at the Natick vs Weymouth playoff game. I decided to choose this fundraiser because when I walk to school feeling freezing with a sweatshirt and a coat on, I can only imagine how cold it must be to someone who can't afford one. It fulfills all the needs of people who can't afford coats and have to suffer in the cold. I emailed all the families of the comets (Naticks youth program) as well as emailing all the families of the players on the team. I also had a caption added to the game day post. My Mother helped me find a spot to put the bin and carry the bin home. It went very well. The bin was overflowing and there were a few more trash bags full of Coats. I did the drive with bundle up New England who has various drop off locations all over New England. I wouldn't change anything. The game I decided to do the drive at was a really big playoff game and there were a lot of people there which helped fill the bin. 

For my lead project, I organized the annual Winter Showcase fundraiser at my dance studio, Empire Dance Company. I had a lot of help throughout this process from my dance teachers and the parents of dancers, while I organized the show there was a lot to learn from my teachers as they have organized the show in the past, and parent volunteers played a tremendous role in spreading the word and helping out during the show while I was performing. I chose this project because I have been dancing at Empire for many years and I know the impact of the money raised from this show and how important it is to our studio and dance community. By collecting funds from this show, it allows dancers to have more opportunities and financial assistance as dance competitions, trips, and learning opportunities can be very expensive. In the future, I would advertise the show more extensively and add more shows to raise as much money as possible. 

For my lead project, I organized and ran the National Honor Society table at Natick High School's Step Up Night. My responsibilities for this project included working with my peers to assign responsibilities for the tasks that needed to be completed prior to Step Up Night, creating an informational flyer to pass out to interested students, setting up the table on the night of the event, and sitting at the table to answer any questions from parents and students. I chose this for my lead project because I think it is important that students understand the expectations and standards of the National Honor Society early on so that they are prepared to reflect that standard through all four years of high school. I believe that the project was successful. Numerous incoming freshman students expressed their interest in the organization and seemed excited to begin working towards their goal of being a part of the organization in the future.

For my lead project I ran a month-long feminine hygiene product drive at Metro West Academy of Jiu Jitsu. After a few days of planning, I sent out a video alongside the owner of the academy, Paul DiRienzo, explaining to members of the dojo how they could help aid efforts in reducing poverty inequality. For the next month, families donated products at the dojo and held important conversations about period poverty with their kids. At the end of the month, we brought the products to the Natick Service council where they would be organized and distributed to individuals who needed them. It was an incredible opportunity not just to give back but also stimulate a greater awareness around the issue of period poverty and its impacts on the greater community. 

For my Lead Project, another member of the National Honor Society and I hosted pasta dinners as captains of our soccer team. We chose to do this to help our team bond more, especially with our new teammates, and to make sure that we were all properly nourishing ourselves for our game the next day. When it was my turn to host, my dad helped me cook the pasta and sauces beforehand and made sure everything ran smoothly. Fortunately, all of the dinners went very well, since our teammates really enjoyed each other's company and the food we made. We all had consistent playing performances the following day and felt good on and off the field. If we were to host more in the future, I would like to add some bonding activities as well after we all finish eating, as I think we would all have a lot of fun participating.

As a part of my lead project I took on the role of the backstage manager at the Greater Boston School of Dance's production of "The Nutcracker". My main responsibilities as apart of this job were to get all necessary props onstage in time for the cast, set up sets, and ensure that all dancers were present and ready to perform their numbers; all things that are essential to a smooth running show. I chose to do this as my lead project because I grew up dancing in performances such as this and thought that being involved in the production from a different perspective would be very interesting. I also wanted to challenge myself and open my eyes to all of the hard work that goes into the shows I have danced in all my life. This project fulfilled the needs of dancers who were able to focus on the quality of their performance rather than searching for surrounding props, teachers who were able to center their attention on other necessary factors of the show, and the audience members who could enjoy an organized production. I prepared for this project by compiling a list of props needed for the show, doing a few walkthroughs in the studio making sure everything was available and ready to be transported to the venue, and asking the ballet director a few underlying clarifying questions if anything came up. I had help from Liza Curtis and the GBSD ballet director Brittany Bush throughout the course of my project. Overall, the project went pretty well and as a team we were able to put on two successful shows with little to no errors. 

My lead project was to provide maintenance to a local cemetery. I live near this cemetery, and this cemetery is relatively well-maintained year-round, but I wanted to provide more maintenance. There are mini sheds around the cemetery that rarely see attention, so I wanted to step up and pick up the trash, and provide a more clean environment. I was not alone on this project either. I prepared and gathered the necessary materials including: trash bags, my friends, and gloves. I then made a schedule for everyone to make sure what day they all could attend. My friends and I worked together to accomplish this task, and it was a success. The areas that needed improvement, got that necessary attention, and a difference was made. This may not seem like a huge priority for community service, but if I was walking around the cemetery where my ancestors are buried, then I would want the area to be and feel clean. I don't think I would do much differently, besides potentially going to other cemeteries and doing the same!

My lead project was organizing a parent workshop for parents in February for domestic violence. I worked with Mr. Hoye as I am a member of Game Changers and he is the director of that club. I created a canva flyer and reached out to Spark Kindness to partner with us for this event. They posted this flyer on their website as well as Mrs. Blocker sending it out in weekly newsletters. For the event I recruited other members of Game Changers to train to be presenters in these parent workshops. On the day of the event I had organized note cards that would send each person who signed up to a specific classroom for their workshop. This project was super rewarding to know that parents took away very useful skills and information that can be helpful in protecting their children from the signs of domestic violence. This is such an important topic and my goal was to continue spreading awareness and resources.

For my lead project, I taught self-defense classes to students with neurological disabilities, focusing on basic techniques like blocking, escaping holds, and staying aware of their surroundings. The goal was to help them feel more confident and prepared in real-life situations. Teaching these sessions was a great experience. I learned how to adjust my explanations and demonstrations to fit different learning styles. It also taught me patience and how to break down skills in a way that made sense to each student. Seeing their progress and confidence grow made the project really rewarding.   

For my lead project, I organized the Model UN Equity Co-op presentation. It was on the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals. We ran six sessions over the course of Equity Day, two of which I presented. The presentations went well, and I think the students in our groups came out of the presentation with a better understanding of what the Sustainable Development Goals are and how they could work towards them. 

For my lead project, I helped to organize the National Honors Society induction ceremony. We prepared by meeting with Ms. Marino and Mrs. St. Jean, and made a list of things that needed to be done for November, such as getting decorations and refreshments for the ceremony, creating invitations, and other tasks that we needed to do for a successful ceremony. On the night of induction, we arrived at the ceremony early to set up the auditorium and cafeteria with everything we prepared, and after it was over, we cleaned everything up. It went very well and everyone enjoyed the ceremony.  

For my lead project, I coordinated Natick Speech and Debate's presentation for the Equity Co-op. We created a presentation with multiple interactive sections, with the goal of teaching communication and presentational skills through the "3 Cs of Presenting," or three main components of presenting effectively. These three principles were commanding the room, conveying your information, and captivating the audience. Over the course of the day, we had six sections, three of which I led or helped lead. By becoming more adept in presenting, participants gained more confidence in using their voice—whether it be for a class, for a job, or just in day-to-day life—a goal that the NHS Speech and Debate Team prioritizes.

For my lead project I chose to organize and run a Youth Soccer Clinic. As a captain for the soccer team I wanted to show my leadership and organizational skills while doing what I love. Before the clinic, I had to attend meetings to figure out dates, drills for the kids, and organize volunteers. During the camp, I checked kids in, separated them into their groups, and ran drills with one of the kids groups. It was a very fun and enjoyable three-day clinic where kids were able to improve their soccer skills and have fun playing games.

For my Lead Project, I collaborated with Sarah Lindgren to research, plan, and organize an informational Equity Day presentation on the History of Racial Inequality in Healthcare. On Equity Day, I led two workshops on this topic. As part of my research, I looked into the history of mistreatment and injustice faced by the African American community and the modern day relevance of these issues in healthcare. I also researched Henrietta Lacks’ story and legacy, with a focus on the impact of HeLa cells in advancing medicine and research. Through discussions and interactive activities, I was able to lead an engaging workshop and share my findings with my school community. Overall, this project was a great experience because there was a lot of student participation and engagement.

For my lead project, I organized a fun candy gram project where I assembled and bought candy and materials to deliver to all the teachers and staff at Natick High School. It was a great way to show appreciation for their hard work and dedication. I carefully put together each candy gram, making sure they looked festive and inviting. Delivering them was such a rewarding experience, as I got to see the smiles on everyone's faces when they received their treats. It felt amazing to spread joy within our school community, just in time for winter break!

For my lead project I lead a team of volunteers to help teach a computer navigation class at the local Natick Senior Center. I worked with the local Senior Center to hold these sessions where me and my volunteers help seniors with any troubles they may have with their personal devices while also teaching valuable tips and skills on how to better utilize and traverse the digital world. I felt that this was an important project to overtake as the older generation is feeling more and more lost about the digital and technological world. Especially with technology rapidly changing I believe it is important to be able to help the older generation so they have less trouble with their devices.

For my lead project, I collected old or unused children's books that other students or families decided they wanted to donate to our collection. I contacted the elementary schools in Natick, as well as the public library to see if they wanted or needed books for their students or their visitors. The goal of this project is to encourage the younger students in the town of Natick to start reading and further their education through literature. This project was completed along with Nick Fernandes.

For my lead project, I organized, gathered, and led a group of like-minded students, adults, and other members of my community to help pick up trash around Elm Bank. During this effort, we mainly focused on the fields at Elm Bank as well as the long trails that wrap around it. I chose this for my lead project as I have been going to Elm Bank for all sorts of recreational activities and sports for many years now and I genuinely feel that I should give back. In the end, my group and I were able to pick up over four full garbage bags worth of trash.

For my lead project, I worked with Ryan Cochrane to organize and promote a local clothes drive, where over the span of three months, we advertised for our drive through social media and picked up clothes from families around Natick. We focused primarily on clothes for people entering the workforce, donating to Dress For Success, but our drive was far more successful and we ended up collecting hundreds of other clothes as well. We chose this project because the lack of clothing for people is an issue that Ryan and I have been aware of for a while now. On top of that, all of the extra clothes lying around houses could be a real use to people in need. Overall, I believe that our drive left a successful impact on our community and I am proud to have been a part of a helpful cause.

For my lead project my tasks included planning and executing the Student Athlete Mentorship Program at Wilson Middle School. This program connected athletes at the middle school with athletes at the high school. As mentors we were able to answer questions about the transition from middle school to high school, and give them advice on how to act in the community. This program was very rewarding, and hopefully we will be able to continue to boost the image of the Natick student-athelte in the future.

For my lead project, I created a 1 on 1 and small group soccer training program. I planned out each individual session in order to help the players develop their passing, dribbling, and shooting skills. I led them in drills that not only challenged their soccer IQ, but also their technical ability. This project pushed me to be more confident when interacting with others, and allowed me to improve my time management skills. Overall, this experience was a great way for me to step out of my comfort zone, meet new people, and connect with the Natick soccer community.

For my lead project, I led the MLK day of service at Temple Beth Am. On this day hundreds of volunteers gather to make lasagnas and banana breads for people in need. Having been a volunteer before, this year was even more impactful because I was a leader of the day, meaning I handled a lot more of the background logistics. I came in the night before to set up all of the supplies and tables for the following day. On the day I taught volunteers how to make the lasagnas and banana breads, helped restock ingredients and stayed to clean up after. I then helped package the banana breads for delivery. Altogether, we made 217 Banana Breads and 162 Spinach Lasagnas!

For my project I lead the National Honor Society tutoring service. First, I gathered a group of 17 tutors. Next, I contacted guidance counselors, teachers, and department heads letting them know that they could reach out to me if they needed a tutor for a student. Throughout the year, whenever a faculty member reached out to either myself or one of the advisors about a student, I found and matched that student with a tutor. All students that requested tutors were matched and were able to successfully complete tutoring.

For my lead project, I chose to lead a religious ceremony for graduating Hindu seniors at the Gita Mandir Temple in Shrewsbury. Being a Hindu is something that is important to me and my family, which is why I decided to indulge in my faith. Leading up to the event, I created a program flyer, urging people to join the ceremony. I also reached out to everyone on the list to make sure that everyone involved with the puja knew where and when it was, with additional updates a few days before the puja. I also created spreadsheets for a potluck at the end of the ceremony, so that everyone could sign up for the dishes they wanted to bring. During the ceremony, I gave program brochures to family members, acted as the emcee, and arranged ceremonial gifts for each of the students. Overall, there were 12 students who participated, more than the past couple of years. I had help from the chair of this temple, Jaya Asthana. In the future, I wish it went more smoothly because sometimes the microphones were not working, but besides that, it went well.

For my lead project, I organized members of the NHS Sailing team to pick up trash around Memorial Beach and the surrounding area. Having been on the sailing team for the past 4 years, Dug Pond is where we hold our practices, and we are grateful for the opportunity to use it. However, there has been an increasing amount of trash and waste in recent years, so we decided to clean it up the best we could.

On 12/14/24, I organized a Rubik's Cube competition. This involved finding a delegate (competition official) from the World Cube Association to work with me, find a venue, create a schedule, and run registration/payments. The Whitney Place (SALMON Healthcare) senior living home in Natick donated the space to us. The competition involved events in which Rubik's Cubes were solved blindfolded. We had 16 competitors. During a break, some of the residents of the senior living home came down and we showed them the cubes. The competition went very well as the schedule ran smoothly, and it was overall very enjoyable to organize and compete in.

Over the summer, I led a Jiu Jitsu summer camp for kids ranging from 6 to 14 years old. My main goal was to teach them basic self-defense techniques while also emphasizing the importance of self-control. I worked to create a fun and engaging experience by incorporating various games and drills into the camp activities. Overall, the atmosphere was lively, and it was immensely rewarding to see the kids enjoying themselves while learning these skills. It was quite a successful camp, as the children not only learned self-defense, but also had an outlet for some of their energy while improving body control.

For my lead project, me and a group of other students designed a one hour lesson on Sustainable Urban Development. We presented our lesson to two classes of about 15-20 students for Equity Day. We led the class through various activities including an activity where the students drew their own sustainable urban space. We also answered questions and found an advisor for our group. The goal of this project was to teach interested students on how to create a sustainable place for people to live, and how we can create change in the places we live to make it more sustainable, and answer any questions that may come up.

Teaching at my local Taekwondo school allowed me to step into a leadership role, guiding students through techniques while fostering discipline and confidence in them. I learned how to adapt my instruction to different learning styles, ensuring that each student could grasp movements effectively. Through this experience, I realized that competition isn't just about winning - it's about growth, both individually and as a community. By helping others refine their skills and push their limits, I saw firsthand how effective competition is built on mutual support, perseverance, and a shared drive for excellence. 

My lead project was creating and leading a talent show style fundraiser for Natick High School Theater. I chose to do this because I thought it would be a great way to highlight the abilities of the theater company while simultaneously raising money for better lighting equipment for future shows. To produce this event I collaborated with Lili Temper and Amelia Giordano in coordinating the acts for the shows, teaching and arranging music for 2 full group numbers, advertising the event, and managing all tech and general details for the show. The showcase ended up being a great success and we raised over $500 to improve our tech equipment! 

Our project was definitely successful at clearing trash throughout the town of Natick. We were able to organize three separate pickups on three different days with multiple kids involved and assistants helping fill three total bags. We found that areas like the town forest and other forests we visited did not have much trash deep within, which was nice to see. However, we also found that there was much more trash nearby the sidewalks of route 9, where people likely dumped trash unknowing of how horrible it would be for the environment. We were able to properly clear and clean much of the town forests and other forested areas around Natick, and I feel prideful about being a part of this lead project.

Our project was definitely successful at clearing trash throughout the town of Natick. We were able to organize three separate pickups on three different days with multiple kids involved and assistants helping fill three total bags. We found that areas like the town forest and other forests we visited did not have much trash deep within, which was nice to see. However, we also found that there was much more trash nearby the sidewalks of route 9, where people likely dumped trash unknowing of how horrible it would be for the environment. We were able to properly clear and clean much of the town forests and other forested areas around Natick, and I feel prideful about being a part of this lead project.

I volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of Framingham and taught kids with no experience in dance the basics for a few days. I pushed them to try new things and learn the art of dance. It was really eye opening to me to see how grateful they were to have the experience because a lot of them had never had the opportunity to try dance before. It was a great experience for me and for the kids.

For my lead project, I worked with Ally Yang to design an alumni website for the Natick Science department. Under the direction of Mr. Hinnenkamp and Mr. Sanford, we created and formatted the website before reaching out to Natick's alumni in STEM fields. Putting all of their responses into our website, we created a resource in which future students who want to go into STEM can reach out to previous sets of Natick students for advice and to gain a better understanding of life after high school. I hope that in future years, this website will continue to be updated so more and more STEM minded Natick students will have a better understanding of what they can achieve after their own graduation.

My lead project was mentoring new youth soccer referees. Refereeing can be very stressful, and as a senior referee, I thought that it would be a great idea to help those in the same position I was years ago. I carefully observed the referees' games and provided them with enough feedback to guide them in the right direction, but not too much as to overwhelm them. I am glad to say that this project was a success as the referees quickly picked up on my tips and showed significant improvement and adherence to the standards of being a referee.

For my Lead project was being a lead mentor in the student athlete Mentorship Program at Wilson Middle School. Throughout the school year myself and other high school athletes met with middle school student athletes and connected with them about the value's of a balanced athletics and academics in high school. Many of the middle school kids have trouble in regards to behaving or keeping up good grades. By being mentored by another athlete they are able to look up to someone who is like them. I also have talked to other high scholars about the program who I believe would be a good fit as mentors in the future. I would consider this to be a successful lead project as a positive impact was made for both the middle scholars I mentored, as well as myself, who got experience in a leadership role and with working with those around me.

“For my lead project, I helped out at step up night for rising freshman and taught them about national honors society. I was prepared to give advice to these students and prepared them for high school. To add on, I helped set up a table for the NHS, arranging it with materials to grab the rising freshman’s attention. I bought decorations to make the table more inviting. Throughout the night, I talked about the benefits and requirements of joining NHS. We got a large number of freshmen to sign up to show their interest in wanting to be involved in the NHS.”

Honeywell Forest and Pickerel Pond in Northern Natick is one of the most serene displays of nature in Natick, and thus becoming a popular attraction to visit among Natick’s residents. Due to this popularity, waste accumulates in the forest and around the pond very quickly. Thus, for my lead project, I decided to fix this problem over the course of three days. During these days, I organized a group of people that would help pick up the trash in the woods of Honeywell Forest and around Pickerel Pond. I delegated specific areas to certain individuals in hope that as a group, production would be maximized. All in all, we managed to gather a good amount of trash, leaving the area a lot cleaner than previously kept, while also preventing waste from contaminating the pond. 

For my lead project, I set up the annual Natick Band Thanksgiving Breakfast, which is a banquet that takes place on Thanksgiving Morning before the Natick vs Framingham football game. First, I solicited donations from local businesses such as Dunkin Donuts, Muffin House, and Roche Brothers. Next, I set up a signup genius to receive food donations from Parents and Donators. Finally, I set up the banquet location, organized the volunteers and donations, and served food to the band members. The breakfast was successful and the over 100 members of the Natick and Framingham Band received food.

For my lead project, I coached third graders. As a coach for a third-grade AAU basketball team, I strive to foster teamwork, sportsmanship, and confidence in young athletes. During practice, I introduce key skills and strategies that help players develop both on and off the court. First, I encourage players to recognize the importance of respect and communication in basketball, emphasizing how teamwork leads to success. Next, I present various game scenarios where players must make decisions. By listening to different perspectives and discussing each approach, the team learns how to think critically, work together, and grow their understanding of the game.

For my lead project, I organized a group of family and friends to do a trail clean up. There is a trail that connects to my neighborhood where I like to go on runs/walks and many of my neighbors use it to walk their dogs or ride bikes. I noticed many broken branches and pieces of trash along the trail, so I led a clean up to clear the path. This was a great way to ensure that the trail was safe and clean for people to use in the spring. I loved being able to help the local community and environment, and I hope to lead another clean up in the future.

For my lead project, I organized a drive at NHS on behalf of a local organization called Cocotree Kids. Cocotree is a non-profit organization that collects and distributes new underwear for children in the MetroWest area. I was interested in working with Cocotree because underwear is such a necessary item, yet it is not usually requested in clothing drives, causing it to fly under the radar. This project was very successful, and I helped collect 300 pairs of underwear for Cocotree to distribute.

I worked with Mrs. Dalton-Thomas to plan and execute tours for incoming freshmen and their parents on Step Up Night. On the night of the event, we showed the school, discussed school activities, and answered questions about the school. Our goal was to welcome the incoming class and make them feel comfortable in the building before they began their freshmen year. I think it's really important that the incoming Freshman get to see the school beforehand, even if only for a few minutes. I remember not going on the tour when I went to Step Up Night, and I couldn’t figure out how to navigate the school. With the tours I held, I hope that some students will have an easier time going through the school. 

For my lead project, I was a senior confirmation advisor at Wellesley Village Church. This is a position for seniors in high school who have participated in the confirmation process in the past. For this, I went to almost every confirmation meeting, and I led and aided group discussions as well as activities. My job was to guide the confirmands through their journey of faith and be a shoulder to fall on if they needed any help or had any problems, as I had already done the same thing during my freshman year. Overall, my lead project was meaningful as I was able to support the confirmands doing something new, cultivate lasting relationships, and even learn a thing or two in the process.

For my lead project I helped run induction for the National Honor Society. This included ensuring the pins, chairs, name cards and whole auditorium was set up for the event. We also had to coordinate with various administrators like Mrs. Blocker and Ms. Diagle to get invitations created and distributed. We coordinated with Mr. Glass in order to get photos for the event as well. We arrived early to set up the cafeteria for induction which included buying and displaying decorations, dessert, and snacks. We stayed to help clean up afterwards aswell. The entire process took around 3 months to plan and organize, and I think it went very well! 

For my lead project, I coordinated the technical side of the first annual NHS Theatre Company Showcase and worked closely with Amelia Giordano and Maya Rodriguez to make sure the event went smoothly. My role included communicating with performers about what they needed from tech, designing and programming lights, programming sound, collecting backtracks, creating print materials for tech operators and performers to reference during the show, creating a plan for mic check, and overseeing the setup, performance, and cleanup on the night of the event. We hoped to give performers more chances to showcase their talent, raise money to improve the company as a whole, and bring the community together in what will hopefully become a tradition at NHS. It went smoothly and was very successful overall; we had 77 attendees, raised $418 for the company, and got a great response from those who came to watch.

 For my lead project, I managed  all of the timing systems for the Race For Snow. The Race For Snow was a nordic ski race which took place at Weston Ski Track, around 20 minutes from Natick. All of the proceeds from race registration and an online auction went to the Protect Our Winters organization which raises awareness about climate change. In total we raised over $10,000. Planning started early many months before the Race in February. I spent hours on various video calls, organizing sponsors, logistics, and people. During the month leading up to the race I experienced a new challenge, learning how to time nordic ski racing with a special software. Come race day, I handed out bibs and created a start list before timing all 6 races throughout the night. Timing was a new experience for me but I managed to make it all work and we were able to submit the race results to the New England Nordic Ski Association, making the race totally official.

For my lead project, I participated in the Jimmy Fund Walk and raised money to support cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This project allowed me to help raise money to support cancer research, and I was able to make connections and learn personal stories that inspired me to help make an impact. I am so happy that I was able to help support the institute and help progress their cancer research forward!

Me and a group of other students designed a one hour lesson on Sustainable Urban Development to present to a class of about 15-20 students two times on Equity Day. We led the class through various activities, answered questions, and organized the lesson, the room we were in, and the advisor for the group. The goal of this project was to teach interested students on how to create a sustainable place for people to live, and how we can create change in the places we live to make it more sustainable, and answer any questions that come up. My group and I created a presentation over multiple months, practiced with other groups, gathered materials for and planned an interactive activity, secured an advisor for the group, and finally presented. The students were very interested in the presentation, asked lots of questions, participated in the activity we planned, and overall learned a lot from the presentations.

For my lead project I raised money to support the communities who were victims of the wildfires of California through a bake sale.  I chose to do this as many people were affected by these natural disasters, including a few of my family members.  Before the bake sale took place, I gained approval to host a bake sale within the school.  I also identified a well-known and reputable charity that is made to help those affected by the wildfires.  Along with Ben, we created signs, advertised, and baked multiple different items for our bake sale, some of which included cookies, muffins, and bread.  During the bake sale we were able to sell all of our items and raised over $80 for our selected charity.  In all, I believe that our bake sale was a successful event and I am very pleased that I was able to raise money to help those affected by the wildfires.

For my Lead Project, I decided to launch a campaign to bring ranked-choice voting to Natick. I began working with ranked-choice advocacy organizations, drafting legislation, lobbying local and state representatives, and organizing community events. As our home rule petition—a permission slip in need of the state’s signature—is slated to appear in the Massachusetts legislature this fall, I’m looking to continue my project into college.

"I am affiliated with Natick's Trail and Forest Stewardship Committee as a Trail Steward and also as the "Mountain Bike Liaison." Last year, I introduced a first-of-its-kind proposal for free and accessible mountain bike trails in the Hunnewell Town Forest. After drafting the proposal, advocating at dozens of town meetings, and listening to community feedback, my proposal was officially approved in August. Now, I am creating and organizing a team of volunteers to help me build the trails in April. This is an ongoing project, but so far I have secured the backing of the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) for volunteers and tools, I have started a GoFundMe to pay for the necessary materials and signage (which has raised $2,000), the area has been flagged and cleared out, and dates are set for construction. On a near daily basis, I have to deal with logistics and update/communicate with town officials—this project has enhanced my communication and time management skills."

For my lead project I worked alongside my peers Fiona Bradley, Gabby Coelho and Macy Gillis to create and lead a presentation for art therapy. Our lesson involved teaching two different classes during the Equity Co-op. We were able to engage and teach the class about the inclusivity that art therapy offers. Throughout the day we presented, created a game to play, and had everyone participate in therapeutic coloring. Overall it went very smoothly and our goal of educating these groups of finding a healthy resource for mental health went very well!

I ran a book drive in partnership with Raising a Reader and collected around 70 children's books. I chose to do this for my lead project because all children deserve to have access to literature, and this organization helps to distribute these books to families in under-resourced communities who might not otherwise have access to books. I organized this drive at DanceFIT, the children's dance studio that I work at, as it was a convenient place for parents to drop off their children's used books. 

For my lead project, I helped to create and design a website for Natick Alumni in STEM. The website is meant to help students in Natick learn about various career pathways in STEM. I worked with Nathan Scharr-Weiner on this project. We reached out to various Natick alums who are currently working or studying in any of the fields of STEM and compiled their responses onto the website. Now that the website is complete, I hope that it allows students to gain a sense of some of the real life opportunities and paths available to them within STEM, and I hope it inspires them to pursue a career in the field.

For my lead project, I organized a Build-a-Brick fundraiser to raise money for the Principal's Fund, which supports student activities and community programs. First, we promoted the fundraiser by creating a brochure and spreading awareness about the opportunity for students and families to purchase personalized bricks. Next, we facilitated the ordering process, giving participants options on how to alter their text and appearance of the brick. We allowed participants to add custom messages and names, helping them to leave a lasting impact on the school. Through this effort, we not only raised significant funds for the Principal's Fund but also gave the school community a chance to contribute to a meaningful and visible legacy project. 

For my lead project, I created and presented a slideshow on Book Banning for the Equity Co-op. I collaborated with Evie Geckle and led two different workshops. I researched the process, history with a focus on Supreme Court precedent, the main reasons, current increase, and dangers surrounding book banning. Because of this project, I had the chance to learn more about a topic that I am passionate about, as well as present my findings and facilitate meaningful discussion with other like-minded individuals. Through the inclusion of engaging games and discussion-centered activities in my presentation, I encouraged participation from my audience and shed light on the many nuances of book banning today.