
Although
the
annual
ceremony
was
canceled,
the
Prince
William
County
Healthy
Communities
∙
Healthy
Youth®
Council
(HCHY)
still
celebrated
those
chosen
as
Local
Hero
Award
winners
with
well-deserved
recognition
for
the
many
ways
their
work
has
made
a
difference
to
the
Prince
William
County
community.
The
winners
of
the
HCHY
Local
Hero
Awards
were
selected
for
inspiring
and
enduring
contributions
to
youth
through
school
and
community
activities.
Recipients
come
from
many
sectors
of
the
community,
including
county
and
state
government,
businesses,
non-profits,
individuals,
and
organizations,
as
well
as
those
who
are
part
of
Prince
William
County
Public
Schools
(PWCS).
Congratulations
to
the
following
PWCS
recipients
of
the
2019-20
Local
Hero
Awards:
One
World
organization
is
a
nonprofit
organization
led
by
a
coalition
of
determined
individuals
with
the
common
goals
of
uniting
and
empowering
youth
using
science,
technology,
engineering,
arts,
and
math
(STEAM).
One
World
officers
Shan
Lateef,
Paul
David
Quimby,
Sofia
Quint,
Leena
Sherdil,
Mason
Simms,
and
Delaney
Walts,
are
juniors
in
high
school.
Through
communicating
their
passion
for
STEAM,
One
World
brings
opportunities
to
youth
of
various
backgrounds
by
exposing
applications
of
STEAM
and
educating
youth
on
numerous
careers
in
STEAM
fields.
One
World
partners
with
community
leaders,
sponsors,
and
supporters
to
grow
STEAM
awareness
through
the
implementation
of
activities
that
include
local
camps,
seminars,
workshops,
and
STEAM
conferences.
Paul
Quimby,
Sofia
Quint,
Leena
Sherdil,
Mason
Simms,
and
Delaney
Walts,
attend
Charles
J.
Colgan
Sr.
High
School,
and
Shan
Lateef
goes
to
Thomas
Jefferson
High
School
for
Science
and
Technology.
Theresa
Mahmood,
school
social
worker
from
Independence
Nontraditional
School,
works
with
students
in
groups
and
on
an
individual
basis
providing
social
skills
and
academic
guidance
to
bridge
gaps
and
help
students
overcome
obstacles.
She
collaborates
with
families,
colleagues,
and
community
resources
to
provide
outstanding
support
for
increased
achievement.
Mahmood
developed
and
implemented
the
Wolf
Den
Pantry
at
Independence
Nontraditional.
She
ensures
that
the
Wolf
Den
Pantry
is
filled
with
food
and
toiletries
for
students
and
families.
She
obtains
food
and
gifts
for
families
during
the
holidays
through
her
plethora
of
community
partnerships.
Mahmood
demonstrates
acceptance
of
differences,
embraces
student
diversity,
and
makes
valuable
contributions
to
Independence
and
the
community.
Natalie
Korzuch
is
a
14-year
old
student
at
Charles
J.
Colgan
Sr.
High
School
who
approached
the
staff
at
Fire
and
Rescue
Station
26
in
Woodbridge
with
a
proposal
to
install
pollinator
gardens
there
to
complete
her
Girl
Scout
Silver
Award.
The
Fire
Department
was
excited
about
the
opportunity
to
create
attractive
gardens
at
the
station,
where
they
live
and
work.
Throughout
the
project,
Korzuch's
passion
and
dedication
inspired
others
as
she
shared
great
knowledge
about
the
plight
of
the
pollinators
and
the
need
to
establish
gardens
containing
the
appropriate
type
of
plants.
Korzuch
explained
that
because
many
of
the
pollinator
plants
were
also
native
plants,
maintenance
for
the
gardens
would
be
very
low
once
established,
making
it
ideal
for
the
fire
station
staff.
Korzuch
obtained
and
installed
a
beautiful
garden
with
22
varieties
of
pollinators
and
a
total
of
165
plants.
Independence
Nontraditional
School
-
Thanks
to
the
creative
and
engaging
educational
opportunities
of
Principal
Robert
Eichorn
and
his
staff,
students
at
Independence
Nontraditional
School
are
encouraged
and
motivated
to
love
learning
and
to
communicate
their
needs,
hopes,
and
dreams.
Teachers,
counselors,
social
workers,
nurses,
administrators,
and
support
staff
are
available
and
provide
caring,
coaching,
and
support
at
all
times.
With
the
knowledge
that
they
often
only
have
one
opportunity
with
some
students
to
get
it
right,
the
staff
are
aware
that
everything
they
do
at
Independence
Nontraditional
must
be
relevant
and
impactful.
With
the
belief
"we
are
better
together,"
they
strive
to
build
a
community
that
is
a
safe
place
for
students,
with
integrity,
ingenuity,
and
intellect
as
the
building
blocks
of
the
healthy
communities
they
seek
for
their
futures.
Joni
Griffin,
teacher
of
students
with
intellectual
disabilities
at
Freedom
High
School,
is
a
leader
in
sustainability
advocacy
at
the
school
and
has
inspired
other
staff
to
join
her.
She
attended
the
annual
Sustainability
Summit
and
Expo,
sponsored
by
the
PWCS
Energy
Management
and
Sustainability
Team
(EMAST).
Griffin
and
other
staff
sponsor
the
Special
Forces
Green
Team
at
Freedom
High.
The
Special
Forces
Team
is
comprised
of
20
students
with
disabilities
ranging
from
severely
disabled
to
autistic.
The
green
team
collects
all
recyclables
throughout
the
school
and
disposes
of
them
in
the
outside
recycling
receptacle.
In
addition,
they
lead
alternative
recycling
programs
for
plastic
bags
and
ink
cartridges.
Griffin,
a
strong
sustainability
advocate
and
a
great
teacher,
exemplifies
the
unique
qualities
of
a
passionate
teacher.
It
is
evident
that
teaching
and
leading
sustainability
efforts
are
more
than
just
a
job
for
her;
it
is
obvious
she
is
an
extraordinary
teaching
"superhero!"
Local
Heroes
Award
recipients
exemplify
how
to
support
and
build
leadership
skills
and
self-awareness
in
our
youth
and
serve
their
communities
as
role
models
for
those
who
come
after.
The
HCHY
Council
is
comprised
of
representatives
of
Prince
William
County
Public
Schools,
the
Prince
William
County
Government,
and
more
than
a
dozen
representatives
from
the
nonprofit,
volunteer,
business,
legal,
education,
and
faith
sectors.
The
mission
of
HCHY
is
to
educate,
communicate,
empower,
and
serve
the
community
to
support
youth
in
building
character,
responsibility,
resilience,
empathy,
leadership,
and
other
developmental
assets.