She goes to school at Albany Academy for Girls, plays ice hockey for her school and Saratoga Springs and is a softball pitcher, but somehow, 12-year-old Zoe Shannon has still found time once a week for six years to help disabled people of all ages from the Gliding Stars program learn to ice skate.
I saw it going on and I really wanted to help, said Shannon.
Her dedication was noticed by her grandmother, who nominated her for a Kohl’s Cares Scholarship, sponsored by Kohl’s Department Stores to recognize youth making a positive impact on the community. Shannon was one of about 200 young volunteers (plucked from a total of 37,000 nominees) to receive a $1,000 scholarship toward post-secondary education this year.
`I was really surprised and proud that I could get rewarded for something I enjoy doing,` said Shannon.
When Shannon first started volunteering with the Gliding Stars program, sponsored by Saratoga Lions Club, she was only 7 years old and much shorter than many of the people she was helping.
`Every year the main person I help is a woman named Amy and she’s in her 40s. From when I was little she was a couple feet taller than me when I started and I had to try to help he stand up,` said Shannon. `Now I’m taller than Amy is.`
Saratoga Lions Club provides the practice time and adaptive skate and equipment for people with disabilities to use at the skating rink on Weibel Avenue in Saratoga Springs. Several volunteers attend practices to teach the novice skaters everything from how to stand on the ice to how to the proper way to move their feed to the rules of the rink.
`I just enjoy it a lot and it’s really rewarding to see how happy the skaters get,` said Shannon, who helps toddlers to adults.
At the end of the year, the Gliding Stars put on a show for their families and friends to show off the skills they spent months learning.
`I really like helping them and seeing how excited they get because we do a show once a year and that’s what everyone looks forward to.`
At first, Shannon said being such a young volunteer was slightly awkward, but she quickly got over it.
`At first I felt a little weird helping people that were in a lot of cases way older than me, but now I’m okay with it and I understand it more,` said Shannon.
Her mother, Tracey Shannon, said her daughter is so dedicated that on the very rare occasion she must miss a Gliding Stars practice, her skaters miss her.
`Her schedule during hockey season is [busy] but she squeezes in Gliding Stars and they count on her and she very rarely misses a week,` said Tracy Shannon. `It’s amazing to me.`
Shannon said she plans to continue volunteering with Gliding Stars for as long as possible.
`I love being there and everybody’s so nice. I love getting to know people and all the volunteers are wonderful,` said Shannon.
She’s not yet in high school but Shannon said she already knows what she wants to put her scholarship money toward.
`I want to go to RPI and study engineering,` said Shannon.
Kohl’s Cares Scholarship winners are chosen based on initiative, creativity, leadership and generosity and each regional-level winner is qualified to win one of 10 national scholarships (totaling $10,000) Kohl’s will announce at the end of July. Kohl’s will also donate $1,000 to a nonprofit organization of each national winner’s choice.
`Kohl’s has rewarded thousands of amazing kids through the Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program and this year alone, we are recognizing nearly 2,200 stand out youth who are making a difference with their volunteer time,` said Julie Gardner, Kohl’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer in a statement. `From feeding the homeless at a local shelter, collecting goods for the less fortunate or volunteering time at a community garden, these kids are making a huge impact on communities nationwide. We are inspired by their stories and are thrilled to recognize their service.`
For information about the scholarship program, visit www.kohlskids.com.
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