Shine The Light On TMF Youth
Is there a stand-out student in your local TMF community who epitomizes strong character? Who demonstrates leadership in either a formal or informal role? Who goes above and beyond to serve their community and encourages others to do the same?
The Details:
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Send us 200 words detailing how your star student or student group exemplifies “If Not Me, Then Who…”
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Include a picture (action shots encouraged)
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Email us your story by December 10th for a chance to win $200 to the eStore!
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All submissions must be emailed to stories@travismanion.org
See below for examples and inspiration!
Caroline Campbell of Towson, MD
Caroline is an inspired high school student who convinced her school, Notre Dame Prep, to expand service opportunities by starting a TMF chapter with fellow students. She directly applies the lessons from her veteran mentor to her roles in her community. “Leadership begins with Love. I’ve really taken this to heart.” Caroline said, “As captain of the varsity tennis team, I would feel like a failure if even one member felt like they weren’t an integral part of our successes.”
She honors her late grandfather, a veteran, through her service. “As a school, it’s our mission to serve marginalized groups and for the first time, we are recognizing veterans and families of fallen heroes.” Throughout the month of November, the Notre Dame Prep TMF Chapter is collecting toiletries and other supplies which they will organize and package for veterans in need, especially women. In addition to that project, they are also planning a letter-writing campaign to give encouragement and thanks to female veterans.
The TMF Hawks of Philadelphia, PA
TMF established a Leadership Academy at St. Joe’s Prep High School. This Academy, the first of its kind in the country, pairs veterans of recent wars with students each semester with a curriculum designed to build student leaders. The program explores the topics of courage, service to others, integrity, grit and resilience, gratitude, and hope, and culminates with each student developing a personal leadership philosophy. Over 180 Prep students have taken part in the Leadership Academy.
The TMF Hawks formed as a result of their work with veteran Mentors in the Leadership Academy and their mission is “to build communities through service work that honors all who have served.” The student group pairs the school mission to form “men for and with others” who are “committed to doing justice” with TMF’s mantra, “If Not Me, Then Who..." They encourage and invite all Prep students to serve throughout the year.
They honor veterans in November at The Prep with veterans appreciation week and most recently over 100 TMF Hawks and members of the Leadership Academy completed an Operation Legacy project cleaning up a nearby Philadelphia neighborhood.
Samantha Schneider of Mesa, AZ
Sam was introduced to TMF through a CDM presentation at the Mesa Police youth development program where she is a cadet. She plans to follow in her parents’ footsteps (both Army veterans) and become an Apache pilot after she graduates high school - even participating in her school’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. She is motivated to continue her family’s legacy of service.
Her veteran mentor, Sgt. Ben Alexander, says of her, “In more than a decade of working with youth I’ve never come across a young person more committed, more dedicated, more professional than Sam.” She recently was awarded the 2018 Character Does Matter Scholarship for her work in carrying on the "If Not Me, Then Who..." message.
Sam Janak of Austin, TX
Sam first got started with TMF through a Character Does Matter presentation at Premier High School in Round Rock from Gold Star Sister, Monica Velez. Sam played a huge part in the completion of two Operation Legacy projects, the latest a year-long project at local Round Rock High School. He assisted throughout the whole process of building an obstacle course at the school. Sam continued to serve outside of that project, some days coming straight from projects such as a laying wreaths at graves of fallen heroes to honor their legacies.
Outside of TMF service projects, he serves his community as a mentor at the Texas Rowing Center for the Texas-Row-For-All, a program that teaches those with disabilities how to row. The Austin TMF chapter recently recognized his leadership in service with a regional Spartan Award. His chapter said of him, “All-in-all, Sam is a true spartan— someone who quietly and consistently shows up, does the little things right, and leaves a lasting impression on any he meets.”
