When Lake Guidance Counselor William Pixler received a telephone call from Leadership Toledo inviting him and three of his Students In Action leaders to attend the April 1 Jefferson Awards breakfast, he was happy for the invitation.

What came next took him a little by surprise. Pixler learned that Lake High School had earned the right to represent all high schools in the Toledo region at the upcoming national Jefferson Awards ceremonies in Washington, D.C.

According to Leadership Toledo Executive Director David Schlaudecker, “Lake High School has raised the service bar for students throughout our region. Before and after the tornado destroyed their school and community, these young men and women have given their time, talents, and treasures to improve the quality of life throughout the area.”

Leadership Toledo Executive Director David Schlaudecker, Lake High School students Amy Patel, Casey Witt, and Hunter Johnson, and Advisor William Pixler.

Being selected to represent the region is not easy. Lake competed with 15 other high schools and had to demonstrate their mastery of seven criteria:

• Recognize one or more outstanding student volunteers each period;

• Use profiles of winners to attract others using prestigious, high visibility means;

• Create a baseline measurement system;

• Student Leaders must attend leadership training provided by Leadership Toledo;

• Raise funds to enhance the school’s Service Program;

• Use media to inform community of service; and

• Recruit additional schools.

Pixler chose Amy Patel, Hunter Johnson and Casey Witt to accompany him to the breakfast but decided not share the good news with the students. Before to the celebration of Toledo’s four area adult award winners, the students were introduced, informed of their selection and presented with a commemorative certificate.

Lake joins St. Francis DeSales and Springfield high schools as schools earning the right to represent the region. “Currently, there are only 12 other communities in the United States that have been selected by the Jefferson Awards organization to pass the tradition of service and volunteerism to the next generation of young Americans through their prestigious recognition and reward program,” said Schlaudecker. “When Thomas Jefferson envisioned our great society, he pictured a democracy populated by an informed and involved citizenry. It isn’t enough to know what needs to be done . . . the sidelines are too full of people very willing to acknowledge that our community has serious issues and challenges. I think Jefferson would be pleased with what we’re doing for schools like Lake. Our programs help the leaders of today and tomorrow transition from ‘Someone should do something,’ to ‘What can I do?’ and finally to ‘Look what we did.’
 

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