Student spends free time with seniors

March 2, 2007

By SHARON G. MCBRIDE

Frontiersman

PALMER - It can be a hard thing to stand out from the crowd in middle school, but for a local student attending Palmer Junior Middle School, standing out is they only way she knows how to make life better for other people.

Angelina Klapperich was named a top youth volunteer for 2007 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The program is nationwide and honors young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism.

Angelina, a seventh-grader, was nominated by her school for devoting a significant amount of time over the past two years to assisting and entertaining residents of the Palmer Senior Center. More than 7,500 students were nominated throughout the state from organizations like Girl Scout councils, American Red Cross chapters, and YMCAs. But only a few, including Klapperich, were selected from the bunch to be the top youth volunteers for 2007.

&#8220We are so excited about this,” said L.J. Klapperich, Angelina's mom. &#8220Any time you give up your time or your talents, you always make the world a better place to live. That's something I've always tried to teach her.”

In addition to singing and playing the piano at the center, Angelina helped the senior residents exercise, talked with them, played games and served meals. She said she wasn't nervous at all being around the seniors, despite their age differences.

&#8220Seniors aren't really different from us, they are just older,” Angelina said.

For example, she said, they like to watch television, play games, read the newspaper and talk.

&#8220They tell me about their children, where they used to work, what it was like in Alaska when they were younger, all the different things they have done - they are always really interesting stories,” she said.

Giving back to the community does have its rewards, she said. And sometimes it can take you to unexpected places.

For example, as a winner, Angelina and her mom, will receive an all expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., to meet the other 101 state honorees. While there, she will receive $1,000, and will be in the running for one of 10 national awards.

&#8220I've learned that you can't help others without helping yourself,” she said.

And being nominated for this honor is tangible evidence of that.

Her mom agrees.

&#8220One of my proudest moments was seeing her serving food at the Palmer Senior Center and talking with seniors, and just seeing how much they were enjoying each other,” said L.J. Klapperich. &#8220That's what life is all about.”

Another Palmer resident, correspondence student Marcus Farquhar, also was chosen for the honor.

He was not available for comment. Marcus was chosen for a workshop he developed using Lego building blocks to teach behaviorally challenged students, according to a news release from Prudential.

Contact Sharon G. McBride at 352-2250 or sharon.mcbride

@frontiersman.