St. Vincent's National Junior Honor Society members donate books on tape
Cottonwood/Holladay Journal (May 2006)

The National Jr. Honor Society Members at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School received a grant from Youth Service America as part of their Youth Venture Program. Spearheaded by Parker Mildenhall, Megan Trentman and Patrick Start, these NJHS leaders presented their idea titled “Literacy Link” via a phone interview and received the grant from YSA last fall.

The funding allowed society members to purchase books and record them onto cassette tapes, making books on tape. On April 7, the society completed the project and delivered them to the Christus St. Joseph Villa, which is a multi-generational day care facility for senior citizens and preschool children.

The "Literacy Link" project has allowed these society members to give their own reading talents back to the community and improve other children’s literacy, by finding books that were their childhood favorites. By participating in this community service project, these young leaders are “linking” the young and the elderly through reading.

This was a kickoff to National Youth Service Day which took place April 21-23. The National Jr. Honor Society is made up of 7th and 8th graders who have maintained a 3.5 GPA average and exemplify character, scholarship, service, leadership and citizenship. There are presently 13 students that are members of the society, and an additional 17 will be inducted this spring.