Star Student: Shelby Launches Program To Capture Stories Of Seniors

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — Star Students are found in classrooms, on concert and theater stages and at debate lecterns, and out in the community doing good things to make life better for all of us.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize Star Students, and we’re working to tell the stories of these outstanding kids to their neighbors.

This submission comes from Shari Wiemann Emling who nominated Shelby - a high school sophomore of Mountain View.

Star local student’s name

Shelby

Star local student’s home state

California

How do you know the star local student?

granddaughter

Why do you believe the star local student should be recognized?

Shelby holds over a 4.0 grade point average (with honors and AP courses), is an active member in the Ocean Conservation and Environmental Impact clubs, and is on the Spirit Squad at St. Francis High School. However, as involved and happy Shelby is in school, her strongest interest lies in making things better for those in her community. She is a Gold Medalist for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award every year since 7th grade, a 10 year volunteer at the Los Altos Library (since she was 5), is an ardent member of Stanford Hills Chapter of National Charity League, and started a new project that recognizes the importance and value of senior citizens in her community. It's better explained in her own words: "Community need that I saw: Our local community of senior citizens has a lifetime of wisdom to share. However, there was no organized effort to capture their stories. Many seniors struggle with isolation and feeling like they do not have much to contribute at their age. In addition, many seniors do not have consistent connections with young people. I want seniors in the community to know that they are important and their lives should be shared and heard." Her solution: Shelby recently created a "Senior Stories" project, where local senior residents at the Terraces Retirement Facility participate in a structured oral history interview with Charity League members - typically mother/daughter or sister pairs. They had so much fun meeting with the residents and learning and sharing their amazing stories during the first two meetings. Everyone bonded with each other and made important connections to take this project forward. Shelby and her mother really enjoyed meeting with their "partner" Anne, and also met with her later at her apartment where she shared her travel books and a recipe. Shelby and the other volunteers she has brought on board, are so excited about this project and the many lifetime positives coming out of the interactions. To formalize this effort, Shelby applied and received a financial grant for implementation of the project, and says she feels so encouraged by every meeting, and the promise of memorializing the thoughts and memories of our senior citizens! The stories deserve to be remembered and kept - they are a step for all of us to go forward. These lessons from the past, from our important seniors, were right there all along! Someone just needed to ask for them, and this is what Shelby is doing. I am so proud of her, and how she is not only learning for her generation, but honoring the grandparent generation as well. I look forward to reading the finished project!

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star local student?

Shelby loves to read, dance and be with her friends - but she also has a big heart for senior citizens and giving value to the strengths of others.

Congratulations on your achievements, and all of our best wishes to you in the future, Shelby!

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Know an outstanding student? Nominate them here.