Community Corner

Groton Eighth Grader A Finalist For Volunteerism Award

Abby Casey, 14, plays three sports, two musical instruments, and maintains high honors in school, but still finds time to volunteer with the Girl Scouts, the VFW and her church.

An eighth grade student at West Side Middle School’s 8th grade is a finalist for a volunteerism award offered through Liberty Bank. 

Laura Quashnie, an language arts teacher at the school, nominated Abby Casey, 14, for the bank’s “Youth in Action” award, and the winner will be announced later this month.

Abby has been a member of the Girl Scouts for eight years, earned a Bronze Award and is working on her Silver Award by organizing a drive for the Reuse-a-Shoe project run through Nike, which turns old sneakers into playing surfaces for parks for youth in need.

She is also a member of the VFW Junior Girl’s group, volunteers for the Saint Mary’s Mother of the Redeemer church, plays on her school’s basketball, softball, and volleyball teams at school and plays cello and bass in the school band. 

Last summer, she took part in the Parks and Recreation “Leader in Training” program.

“Most of Abby’s efforts are not about raising money; they are about giving of her time and talents to causes which she supports,” Quashnie wrote in nominating Abby, also a high honors student.

Quashnie added, “In all areas of her life, she holds herself to a high-standard of excellence and she has the ability to bring out excellence in others.”  


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