June 8, 2010 -- The 225 students at Alverno High School completed 17,707 hours of Christian service during the 2009-2010 school year--by far the largest total number of hours completed at the school since service hour record-keeping began nearly a decade ago.

 

“It is clear to us on campus that community service is part of the core of our school,” says Ann Gillick, Alverno Head of School. “Our goal is to help develop young women, with among other things, an attitude of justice and caring.”

 

Campus Minister Chris McGuiness adds, “It is our hope that long after graduating from Alverno, our students continue a life rooted in service to others.”

 

The graduating class of 2010 completed a total of 18,564 service hours over their 4 years at Alverno.  A new award started in 2008 is to honor any single graduate who completes a minimum of 420 hours over their four years with a gold tassel at graduation. In years past, Alverno has never had more than eight seniors earn the tassel.  This year the school has 21 graduating seniors who have qualified for this award by earning over 420 hours during high school. That is an incredible statement to the amazing hearts and commitment to service that Alverno students have.  The girls who will receive the Fr. Joaquin Masmitjá Lifetime Service Award are Alyssa Avila, Julie Bailey, Chelsea Bejjani, Melody Bueno, Jessica Capra, Chelsea Cubas, Gina Dance, Lana El- Farra, Xiomara Garza, Katie Howard, Rebecca Iraheta, Cheryl Iwamoto, Melissa Long, Melissa Miranda, Angelina Pellegrino, Lillya Roldan, Lauren Sanchez, Jordan Turner, Morgan Turner, and Taylore Weldon.

 

And it is not just about the numbers.  It is about the projects and the countless people that our young women have served that can just begin to tell the story.  Here are some of the organizations Alverno students have been involved with: Sierra Service Project working on native American Reservations; Sunrise Alzheimer’s Home; AIDS walk Los Angeles; Los Angeles  Regional Food Bank; Rose Float decorating; Villa Esperanza; Student Ambassadors for Tournament of Roses; March for Hunger; City of Hope pediatrics; Natural History Museum; Pueblo Ingles (teaching English in Spain); Huntington Hospital; Waterfest water conservation festival; local church tutors; confirmation teams; church carnival volunteers.

 

Alverno High School is the independent, Catholic, college-prep high school for girls in Sierra Madre. Its college-prep curriculum and emphasis on empowering young women attracts students from public and private schools throughout the San Gabriel Valley. The school will celebrate the 50th anniversary of preparing young women for the future with a series of events during the 2010-2011 school year.