Photo by Kacie Fuselier

Students Honored for Community Service

The National Charity League (NCL) River Road Chapter, which includes 28 St. Joseph’s Academy students, was honored on January 28 as a recipient of a Power of 9 award. Seniors Madison Moore, Abbey Simoneaux and Elaine Vidrine, along with their mothers, were among the chapter’s representatives at a special awards luncheon, held at Boudreaux’s.

“It has truly been a privilege to be a part of such a wonderful organization.” Abbey Simoneaux '10

The Power of 9 award, sponsored by Capital One Bank, Volunteer! Baton Rouge and WAFB-TV Channel 9, celebrates the exceptional volunteer efforts of members of the Baton Rouge community. Each month, Power of 9 recognizes an individual or group that is making a difference through volunteer service. Honorees are also featured in 90-second spots on WAFB-TV.

NCL members were nominated for the award for work done when current seniors were in 10th grade. They were assigned to serve with Volunteers of America (VOA) doing projects such as breakfast in a bag for the drop-in shelter, hosting fun days at Parker House and creating educational games at Partnership in Childcare. Of note was the Camper Kits project, in which NCL members made special kits for campers with developmental disabilities. While the Power of 9 award nomination was made on behalf of the class of 2010, the entire chapter was recognized for its ongoing, chapter-wide work with VOA. Last year, NCL members provided 923 hours of service to the organization.

The mission of NCL is to foster mother-daughter relationships in a philanthropic organization committed to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences. The River Road Chapter is comprised of more than 200 mothers and daughters, ranging in age from 7th to 12th grades, who work with 14 local agencies that assist the community in the areas of healthcare, elderly services, the environment, education and homelessness.

“NCL has become part of my life,” Vidrine said. “I’ve been in it for six years and have just loved every moment of it. It’s so great that NCL has been recognized for all the hard work we’ve done. Mothers and daughters in NCL put in hours of community service. It’s good to give back to the community, and after doing service work, you have this great feeling inside that you have made someone else’s life wonderful.

“My favorite part of being in NCL is all the friends I’ve made,” Vidrine added. “I’ve been able to stay close with friends at other schools. Every year when I see the new members, I get excited that the younger generation wants to do as much service work as I do.”

Moore said it was extremely special to be recognized as a Power of 9 award winner along with her mother and her classmates. “We got to see how much people appreciate the work that we do for them,” she said. “Also it was an honor and a humbling experience to be with the other recipients. Community service is special to me because I have gotten a lot of satisfaction from the people I have helped. I enjoy the many opportunities for friendship and philanthropies that come with being an NCL member.”

Simoneaux said that while receiving the Power of 9 award is an honor, the true honor is in providing value and respect to those in need in the community. Her membership in the chapter, she said, has been invaluable. “Because of National Charity League, I have grown closer to my mother,” she said. “I have developed significantly as a person while observing the same in girls who share the same values. I feel humbly grounded, and I’m not sure I would appreciate what I have to the degree I do were it not for my experiences over six years with this group. I have learned to appreciate everything I have and that it is important to give back to the community, particularly to those less fortunate. It has truly been a privilege to be a part of such a wonderful organization.”

In addition to Moore, Simoneaux and Vidrine, SJA students who are members of NCL are seniors Meredith Conger, Erinn Greenblatt, Maddy Harris, Samantha Hess and Kimberly Kwan; juniors Emily Kelty, Courtney Major, Haleigh Pope, Mary Sturdivant, and Julie Viguerie; sophomores Emily Guarisco, Gabby Gutierrez, Brittany Mitchell, Laura Catherine Smith and Victoria Taravella; and freshmen Lauren Duke, Rainey Gerald, Anna Gill, Peyton Klemm, Emily Lewis, Alison Melancon, Amanda Ourso, Kathleen Smith, Sarah Sturdivant and Kayla Thibodeaux.


Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director