Jade Dempsey receives 2023 Montana Student Volunteer Award

News from Director Kathie Maiers TRIO Student Support Services

PABLO — Jade Dempsey, SKC TRIO SSS Scholar and Elementary Education Student, is one of 12 Montana College Students awarded the 2023 Montana Student Volunteer Award.

Dempsey is involved in many community service projects, all involving collecting donations for a community organization. For example, she has collected donations for a fundraiser her family does every year in remembrance of her nephew, who passed away on his birthday. This is the sixth year. They do silent auctions, bake sales, a raffle, a free spaghetti meal, and a live auction. All proceeds will go to the Ronald McDonald House in Missoula, Montana.

In the first year, 2018, she and her family raised over $4,000. In 2019 they raised over $6,000, and in 2020 they skipped a year due to COVID. In 2021, they raised $8,602. Finally, in 2022, she and her family raised $18,000 for the Ronald McDonald House. Dempsey hopes to do the same this year.

Dempsey is also involved with the Boys and Girls Club in Ronan and Polson and collects donations for the clubs. For example, Walmart in Polson donated many school supplies, such as crayons, markers, and colored pencils. She had a trunk full of supplies and