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Racine Tour in the News!

Story by St. Catherine's Senior Hannah Youngquist published in the Journal Times!

Author: Hannah Youngquist, STLF
Newspaper: The Journal Times

RACINE - Imagine an organization based on service with a vision to energize generations of leaders defined by the core values of trust, initiative, passion and support.

Now imagine students founded and led the organization. Imagine that in seven years, more than 8,000 student members would dedicate more than 100,000 hours helping people throughout the nation.

Now stop imagining. The organization already exists. It is called Students Today Leaders Forever, or STLF, and of those 8,000 student members, who come from across the country, 41 have been from Racine high schools.

Those local students participated in February in Wisconsin's first STLF Pay It Forward Tour, one of the ways STLF carries out its leadership mission.

Pay It Forward Tours take students on trips to various communities for service projects that include education and reflection. For Wisconsin's February Pay It Forward Tour, 39 students from St. Catherine's High School, one from The Prairie School's Upper School and one from Racine Lutheran High School boarded a bus and spent five days driving to four cities, performing works of service in different communities.

The students worked at the Center for the Homeless, a homeless shelter in South Bend, Ind.; worked at a nursing home in Indianapolis; cleaned up a park in Bowling Green, Ky.; and worked at a park outside of Nashville, Tenn., removing invasive species and planting more than 600 trees, saving the staff of the park at least a month's worth of work.

"The Tour really brought home how much of an impact our actions can have. We really made a difference," said Brianna Lees, a junior at St. Catherine's who went on the trip. "Since I've been home, I've definitely been more interested in finding ways to volunteer."

St. Catherine's senior Zena Mengesha said the trip was about more than just hard work and sweat.

"It was about working together and enjoying ourselves while we changed the world," she said.

Besides the service, students on the Pay It Forward Tour visited two college campuses: the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., and Butler University in Indianapolis. Notre Dame especially was a thrill for many students, who were excited to bring home Fighting Irish souvenirs.

On the trip, students also spent time reflecting on the days' work and service projects. After spending a day working in the homeless shelter, students thought about how they take many luxuries for granted.

A Tour for June 15-20 is currently registering. Students who attend the summer tour will travel to Toronto, making stops in Valparaiso, Ind.; Detroit, Mich.; and Niagara Falls.

After a successful February tour, students at St. Catherine's, 1200 Park Ave., are optimistic for the upcoming Tour.

"Every person drew something different out of their inner core to make the experience worthwhile," said St. Catherine's senior Mackenzie Chaffee, who went on the February tour. "And while doing that, we grew in friendship, our world views and personally as young adults. I really hope that SCHS continues to have tours to give more students access to this fantastic opportunity."

This section features articles written by students at Racine County high schools. Article submissions are coordinated through participating high schools.

 

 

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