In light of the gift giving season, an overall theme has spread over the students at Edison: help those in need and give back for the holidays.
Student Spotlights
The food drive would not be able to help feed over 50 families over the holiday season without the work of two phenomenal students, Brooke Hardin and Jessica Evans.
Jessica Evans is not just the Vice President of Edison’s Honor Student Council, but she is the Vice President of National Honors Society, one of the high school cheerleading captains, an honors student with above a 4.0 GPA, the first chair flute in the Edison concert band, one of the drum majors in high school marching band, a music tutor for the junior high band, a member of Edison’s gardening club, member of the cross country and softball teams, and a very influential piece in her class’ government.
Jessica began her time at Edison in 7th grade and has always been a part of many of the activities for the students in the school. Even though she has been cheerleading, playing in band, running in cross country and track, and heavily involved with her student council, Jessica’s grades have never fallen and she now resides among the Top ten in the senior class’s GPA ranking.
“[Jessica] is just one of those people that you can really rely on to get something accomplished for you,” said fellow senior William Pallick. “No matter what, at the end of the day she gets the job done.”
Whenever she has the chance, Jessica spends most of her free time working at the Portage 16 IMAX Theater, where she has worked for over one year or with her friends hanging out, especially her fellow student council members. Straight from the word of the student council historian Loretta Sperry, “Whenever you’re down, [Jessica] can make your day so much better just by being there, talking to you and helping you through it.”
Her association with anyone and everyone in the school really helps Jessica pass news around and promote positivity throughout Edison.
All in all, Ms. Evans is one of the most multi-talented students at Edison and in only 24 hours a day, she could solve world hunger if she really tried because she cares enough about others and is so time efficient. When someone can balance student council with softball, cross country, cheer and track with National Honors Society with marching and concert band and still have time to get straight A’s, while working a full time job, they deserve to be recognized.
Like her Vice President, Brooke Hardin does a lot more in her school than just manage the role of President of Edison’s Honor Student Council. She is the second-half of the marching band’s drum majors, a flutist in the Edison concert band, an honors student with above a 4.0 GPA, the first singles for the Lady Eagle’s tennis team, a member of the cheerleading squad, a vital participant in her church’s youth group, an alto in Edison’s a capella choir Drown Out, and a very well-rounded person inside and outside the classroom.
Referred to as a “ray of sunshine” by many of her peers and teachers alike, Brooke Hardin is the type of person anyone can go up to, even if they are strangers, and she will assist them through any hardships. Her smile and voice can alone make any sadness you have drift away into nothingness.
“I want to help people. I still don’t know how, but that’s what I want to do,” said Brooke. “Whether I help the homeless or go into social working, I just want to help.”
But the best thing about Brooke’s happy-go-lucky demeanor is that, while always present, it does not take form if it is not needed, meaning whenever she needs to get serious, she can take the initiative. Even with her sweet, almost iconic voice, Brooke can take control of almost every situation; from the meetings at student council to the rehearsals in her band class, she always knows how and when to get herself and others down to business. Ms. Hardin never has to yell to command the floor, but instead can soothe a rowdy crowd.
“Even when she sings in a huge group, you can point out her voice from everyone else because it is so distinct.” said a fellow, anonymousDrown Out member.
Brooke attributes all of this to her relationship with God. She said, “[He] guides me when I have no clue what to do. I know He is always there for me.”
Her major role models in life are her parents. In regards to them, Brooke said, “When you’re younger you believe that your parents are perfect so you not only want, but need to make them proud.”
She says that it is her parents that always taught her to be nice and care for others.
Simply put, Edison’s food drive and the entire student council are completely golden having both of these wonderful women at the helm. No other duo makes such an impact like these too in the school community.
Food Drive
‘Tis the season of giving and Edison Jr./Sr. High School is looking to do just that for many of the families in the Lake Station area. Led by the Edison Student Council, the students at Edison have began to collect canned goods and other non perishables for those in need. Class competition has even broke out, as all the graduation classes are battling for who can collect the most for the annual food drive.
Families are either recommended by a friend or ask for help themselves by getting ahold of the council’s supervisor Bill Ness and it the job of the students to travel across the city spreading Christmas joy.
According to many of the student council members, the food drive is their favorite student council activity of the year.
“This is my fourth year helping out at the annual food drive,” said student council Vice President Jessica Evans.
“It warms my heart to deliver food to families in need every year. It is nice to give to those who don’t have the luxury of having food during the holiday season.”
The food drive is a process which takes weeks of preparation and two full days of execution by the high school student council. The council feeds in items and monetary donations from many of Edison’s students and faculty members. They spend a full day separating and equally bagging the collected cans and goods. With the donated money, the student council goes out to Strack’s and buys any perishable items families may need for the holiday season, including a family turkey or roast. On December 23rd, the student council will deliver all of the food to over fifty families, with any excess goods being donated to the Lake Station food pantry.