AOBI students, faculty recognized for volunteer work at North Reach
Wednesday, May 14, 2014 9:21 am | Updated: 9:29 am, Wed May 14, 2014.
By JULIE FAIRMAN Laughlin Nevada Times | 0 comments
BULLHEAD CITY — Winston Churchill said, “You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.”
Embracing that philosophy are the students of the Academy of Building Industries in Fort Mohave, who personally invested their time and energy to projects that benefit the community and the environment.
AOBI students and faculty were honored last week for the nearly 5,000 hours of work they contributed to the Colorado River Heritage Greenway Park and Trails in Laughlin over the past three years. AOBI is a public charter high school geared toward the vocational trades.
Partnering with the National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation and Clark County, the students designed and helped construct an interpretative trail for the Davis Dam Contractor Camps, as well as logos and recycling bins that will be placed throughout the facility.
“You are our future,” Val Simon, chief of resource management for the BofR, told the students during the ceremony. “You young people are growing up, taking charge, learning how important it is to manage our lands…. Quite frankly, we’re going to be sitting back, watching you grow and become our leaders.”
Laughlin Town Manager Jacquelyn Brady told those gathered, “I’ve never seen a project have such partnership, such agreement among so many different people and agencies…. You have added to that partnership and I believe it’s going to have an affect on the way you live life.”
NPS Education and Outreach Specialist Amanda Rowland has worked with the AOBI students since the project’s inception. “The goal here is not to just celebrate this project but to celebrate the community,” she said.
Students and teachers involved with the work at North Reach, as it’s commonly called, were presented with President Volunteer Service Awards, a letter of appreciation from President Barack Obama and certificates of achievement. Depending upon the number of hours they worked, the volunteers were given either bronze, silver or gold medals.
The President’s Volunteer Service Award program was established in 2002 by President George W. Bush to honor volunteers that give hundreds of hours per year helping others. With emotions running high after the attacks of 9/11, President Bush saw the need to renew the interest in helping neighbors and called upon all Americans to help by volunteering their time. As a part of this request, he created the President’s Volunteer Service Award to be given to those that help to make a difference.
AOBI Senior Gabriel Ortega received a gold medal in recognition for the 264 hours he devoted to the project. The experience left such an impression on the young man that he plans on making a career with the NPS.
Teacher Coy O’Kelley and Principal Jean Thomas also received gold medals for the countless hours they worked on the projects.
“I just want to say how proud I am of each and every one of you,” said Candace Rambow, NPS intern who worked with AOBI students on the CRHGPT project. “I’ve watched you guys transform, and you’ve put a lot of pride and effort into this project. Thank you for making this project complete.”
AOBI Salutes Dylan Macfarlane!
On November 2, 2012, AOBI senior, Dylan Macfarlane was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). PTK is Mohave Community College’s Honor Society for students achieving a 3.5 GPA or higher. Dylan is not only working towards an Associate’s Degree for Auto Collision Technologies at MCC, he is also currently finishing up his senior year at AOBI. Dylan will receive a Certificate for Auto Collision Technologies from MCC before he gets his high school diploma in May of 2013.
We would like to congratulate Dylan for a job well done and encourage him to continue working towards the great things the staff at AOBI know he is capable of. For the last four years at AOBI Dylan has been a shining example of what students are capable of at AOBI.