Service Above Self Winner - Ponte Vedra

We were pleased to present Kaitlyn Kessler with our Service Above Self Award for Ponte Vedra Beach High School.

Kaitlyn's Community Service efforts included:

• Volunteering with the American Cancer Society as a team captain for the Relay for Life Event as a freshman and then expanded her talents as a Junior, when she was appointed to the Advocacy Chair for the Ponte Vedra Relay for Life Event.
• She heightened her commitment when she was promoted to the St. Johns Executive Unit Operating Board for the American Cancer Society where she lobbied for funding for cancer related programs during the Advocacy Day in Tallahassee.
• Tutored middle school students in Algebra.

Her other activities included:

• Kaitlyn was a recipient of the Academy Award for Excellence during her freshman and sophomore years at Ponte Vedra High School.
• As the founding member of the Future Business Leaders of America Chapter, she won the district and state levels as a freshman and qualified for the National Competition. 
• Her leadership continued as the Captain of the Academic WorldQuest Team and as an active member of Rho Kappa and the Hispanic Society.
• As the first Short Term Rotary Youth Exchange Student to Germany, she represented the United States well and became a citizen of the world.

In her essay, she stated, “ Service Above Self will mean something different to every person you ask. It’s an inspiration to turn your life around, the call to community

service, or the invitation to brighten another’s day. All are noble interpretations but to me, Service Above Self is more than a temporary inspiration, it’s a mantra I try

to live my life by.” 

She is certainly an inspiration to all of us.