Jennifer Utt

"Gift of Giving" is Utt's winning project that will focus on writing while introducing her eighth-grade students to the idea of giving service. Students will go on a field trip to the local food bank and a clothes closet for foster youth. After a day of service, local nonprofit organizations will participate in a panel discussion to talk about how the community (including teenagers) can serve their organizations. From the agencies on the panel, students will select one organization to research and use their findings to write an essay to encourage the community to support the nonprofit organization. Each nonprofit will receive a CD of the students' essay and a DVD with a video the students produced which can be used on the organization's Website, and in marketing and fundraising materials to further their missions. The students' work will be celebrated at a movie night where parents and the participating nonprofits will view the videos and celebrate the students' hours of service. Utt, who resides in Springfield, hopes the program will show students that there are many opportunities within the community teenagers to help others.