Gilmour Academy Student Wins Award For Extraordinary Service

GATES MILLS, OH — A Gilmour Academy senior will receive the 2019 Youth Virtues, Valor and Vision Award from the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). THe award is given to students from around the nation that demonstrate selfless service, determination, innovation, and commitment to their ideals.

This year, Madison Wagner, from Strongsville, will receive the award. She was chosen from more than 1.8 million Catholic school students nationwide. She will be presented with the prestigious NCEA Medal of Honor and Certificate at Gilmour Academy's Our Lady Chapel on Friday, Feb. 1.

“NCEA extends its sincere congratulations to all the winners and to all those who have supported the outstanding service and faith witness of these remarkable young people,” said NCEA Chief Leadership and Program Officer, Dr. Barbara Edmondson. “Young people in our Catholic schools are truly changing the world, one student at a time.”

Wanger started the Make A Difference Club (M.A.D. Club) in 2014, during her eighth-grade year at St. Bartholomew School. She launched the second chapter when she arrived at Gilmour, and has helped launch three other chapter at other high schools. She's in the process of launching additional chapters at another grade school, three other high schools, and an assisted living center.

The M.A.D. Club works to serve their communities and inspire young people into service. The Gilmour M.A.D. Club has worked with more than 10 organization in and around Cleveland and its members have recorded over 1,700 volunteer hours.

The M.A.D. Club at Gilmour tends its plots at the Ben Franklin Community Garden, where more than 6,000 pounds of vegetables have been harvested for local food banks. The group has also prepared more than 2,000 brown-bag peanut butter and jelly meals for shelters around Cleveland.

Particularly relevant during Cleveland's extreme and dangerous cold freeze, M.A.D. club volunteers have held fundraisers to buy military-grade, water-repellent and flame-retardant blankets. Nearly 1,000 blankets have been purchased through the Club's efforts.

The Club has also collected hats and gloves for homeless men, throws parties for underprivleged children, and write letters of support to victims of domestic violence and addiction. Wagner has logged more than 500 hours of community service (Gilmour requires 60 hours for graduation).

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“I am thrilled that Madison has been selected for this prestigious recognition. The work she has done through M.A.D. Club has impacted both the Cleveland community and our Gilmour community," said Gilmour's Head of School Kathleen Kenny. She continued, “Through her leadership, the club has provided countless blankets, meals, produce and supplies for the homeless and hungry in our area. Equally important is her impact right here on campus. She has fostered the culture of service among the student body at Gilmour, living and breathing our school mission each and every day."

The Make A Difference Club has its own website, with more information about Wagner's efforts.

Photo from Gilmour Academy