4 minute read
Creating a Legacy Students take initiative in clubs, service, and publications
Article by Hans Sirotniak ’24
his year, several students took the initiative to launch extracurricular clubs, service projects, and publications based on their interests, putting forth their talents to serve God and the school community.
All PVI students now have the opportunity twice a month to attend the new Aerospace and Aviation Club, led by John Williams ’25. John established this club to provide an opportunity for like-minded students interested in exploring topics and tales in aviation and space.
“This club brings in guest speakers, from a former Top Gun pilot, engineers — and eventually astronauts — to speak with young minds! Our goal is to spread the wonders of aviation and history to the next generation at PVI by offering a chance to listen and speak to successful aerospace individuals. When we see what can fly, we see the endless heights of our potential,” John shares.
Students were also busy organizing events off campus with a new project called Feeding Need, founded by Alexandria Boland ’25 and Madisyn Kroeger ’25. Alexandria and Madisyn gathered with students outside local grocery stores and encouraged shoppers to buy an extra food item to donate. Student volunteers then package the donated items into meal boxes, which are distributed to the Cornerstones Embry Rucker Community Shelter in Reston. So far, Feeding Need has contributed 808 meals and counting.
Alexandria recalls, “I’ve seen students dedicate weekends and evenings to collecting food. I’ve had people drop off carts full of food when they came to the grocery store for only one item. I’ve had girls I barely know drive an hour out of their way to drop off boxes. Encountering people through service is like nothing else I’ve ever done, and I’m privileged to have this experience and provide an opportunity for others to as well.” Madisyn adds, “Feeding Need has given people an easy and meaningful way to give back to their community. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store.”
Alexis Boland ’25 and Madisyn Kroeger ’25 created a service group called Feeding Need. They raise money, buy food and boxing materials, gather students, and meet after school to pack, label, and box food to be donated.
Another donation project was organized by Natalie Nicholson ’25, who partnered with International SEVA to collect art supplies. She explains, “International SEVA is a program based in Ashburn that aims to support students with special needs in the Northern Virginia area. The Art Supply Drive at PVI collected various supplies to provide these students with educational resources to help them grow and uplift them. By the end of the drive, four large moving boxes were filled to the brim with supplies. I worked with this organization and put together the Art Supply Drive because although PVI is very fortunate to have an Options Program, other schools in the area do not have access to this resource. Many kids my age with special needs are left at home with a caretaker, and providing this organization with supplies will help these students become more involved in their community. This was a self-led initiative; I organized the drive, promotions, and collected the supplies.”
Also new this year was the Writer’s Block Club, a group of students making a difference on the web by contributing to a periodical publication called Crossroads. First published in December 2023, the magazine allowed students and faculty to share their interests and creativity in writing articles on diverse topics. With its motto, “collaborating at the intersection of inspiration and information,” Crossroads welcomed everything from poetry, fantasy fiction chapters, and features on events around the school, to international travel stories, insights about music, screenplay excerpts, and spiritual guidance from our school chaplains.
Carter Casagrande ’25 served as a writer, editor, and designer for the publication; she interviews and writes about students who are making a difference in their communities. Carter shares, “I love writing these articles because I get to write about something that I am passionate about and hopefully inspire the PVI community by opening their eyes to all of the service opportunities surrounding us.
“The purpose of these articles is for students to learn through the examples of their classmates that there are so many ways to make a difference and to show them that even small and simple acts can have a huge impact on the lives of others.”
