Urbana Mayor honors students for 10k hours of volunteer service

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A group of Urbana High School students got special recognition from the city and Mayor Diane Marlin this week. It wasn’t for their grades or athletic accomplishments, but for giving more than 10,000 hours of their time this school year to do volunteer work.

More than 100 students were honored in their school gymnasium for putting in work to better their community. It was the third annual ceremony of the Mayoral Recognition Program, the idea for which came to Marlin after she realized the important work volunteers do.

She wanted to thank them.

“They share their talents, their knowledge, their abilities, or simply their time,” Marlin said. “And that’s a huge gift to give to people in the community.”

Kierra Moten is one of the students who were honored. She said giving her time has always come naturally.

“I’ve been volunteering since I was seven, because I’m in Girl Scouts,” she said. “And last year, I received the Gold Award for having the most hours out of the whole high school.”

The Mayoral Recognition event featured the Urbana School’s Mariachi Band, as well as an introduction from Champaign County’s NAACP president. But students like Eve Foley said recognition is not why they volunteer.

“I really care about our community, and I really love Urbana,” Foley said. “And so, it’s just a big part of my life and my identity is like trying to help other people and give back.”

Volunteers helped out not just in Urbana, but as far away as Mississippi. They built seven Habitat for Humanity homes, picked up more than 200 gallons of litter and gave out 300 turkeys and groceries over the holidays

“It makes me feel good, seeing the smiles on people’s faces, meeting new people, always just new interactions every single day,” Moten said. “Whenever there’s a volunteer opportunity, I just take it.”

Marlin said people typically celebrate student athletes and those on the honor roll. Now, people who selflessly give their time are getting honored too. It’s something she wants to see catch on in other places.

“We need to celebrate the good in our schools, the good in our community, and the good in our students,” Marlin said. “Because you often hear about the bad.”

Students needed at least 30 volunteer hours to get a certificate from Marlin. The program is open to any high school student completing their service during the school year.

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