Pair receive G-Prep’s Ignatian Service Award
Michelle Willcox and Ekatrina Burunovaa, seniors at Gonzaga Preparatory School, were recently named recipients of the Ignatian Service Award.
Willcox is the daughter of Katherine Willcox, Spokane Valley, and Burunovaa is the daughter of Viktor and Olga Burunova, Spokane.
The Ignatian Service Award honors students who best represent the Ignatian spirit of community service and being a person for others.
Willcox’s commitment to volunteerism and active involvement in school are evident in her list of accomplishments.
For the past two years she has provided child care for a child with Prader Willie syndrome. She has organized a service project with several grade schools to have art supplies sent to children in El Paso, Texas and to Juarez, Mexico. Her other projects include Second Harvest Food Bank, Head Start, Ronald McDonald House and St. Margaret’s.
She went on a mission trip to Mexico to build houses, assisted at Garry Middle School with the developmentally disabled, is an active member of Ancilla, vice president of Key Club, a tutor with the National Honor Society, in Leo’s Club (young version of Lions Club), active in St. Mary’s youth group, on the tennis team (recipient of Coach’s Award) and holds a 3.87 grade-point average.
Burunova’s commitment to volunteerism and active involvement in school are evident in her list of accomplishments.
She has tutored middle and high school students at North Central for nearly three years (800 hours), volunteers at Rockwood Lane Retirement Center two times a week, volunteered at Summit View Apartments for low income, single parents, volunteered at the Delaney Apartments low-income housing for 200 hours, and she has helped with her 4-H group for three years.
She also was a Gonzaga Prep nominee for HOBY, awarded leadership at HOBY, and tutored after school at Shaw Junior High and Regal Elementary. She is currently working as an English as a second language program for adults.
Junior Achievement receives grant
Junior Achievement of the Inland Northwest has received a community grant totaling $1,026 from the Fred Meyer Foundation for Junior Achievement educational programs in kindergarten through 12th grade. The program teaches students about business and economics.
Through Junior Achievement, companies and individuals share their success with kids, inspiring them to reach their potential and become prepared for the work force of tomorrow by reinforcing the relevance of the academic subjects they are studying today.
The funds from the Fred Meyer Foundation will sponsor elementary school programs in the area, ensuring the participation of the students who otherwise may not have access to this program.
The foundation’s community grant program is driven by 29 local advisory committees made up of local Fred Meyer employees who research nonprofit organizations in their communities and then award community grants.
St. George’s students in All-NW Honor Choir
Three high school students at St. George’s School have been selected to perform in the 2005 All-Northwest Honor Mixed Choir.
Tasha Koontz, MacKenzie Trail and Jonathan Steenblik were chosen from more the 3,600 musicians from six Northwest states who auditioned.
David Demand, St. George’s high school music teacher, also was recognized for preparing the three students.
The honor groups consist of concert bank, symphony orchestra, mixed choir, women’s choir, jazz band and jazz choir and are organized by the National Association for Music Education.
The three St.George’s students will join approximately 500 vocalists for three days of rehearsals during the 2005 Northwest division conference of MENC in Bellevue, Wash., in preparation for a public concert at the Washington Convention Center in February.