(Clarkesville)- 
Nicole Dover, Washington Youth Tour Coordinator at Habersham EMC, today announced that Morgan West from Cleveland has won a nationwide student service project grant contest. With the $500 student service project grant, West will support the Secret Closet initiative established at White County High School. The grant program was coordinated in partnership with generationOn, a global youth service organization.
“Students are our beacon of hope for the future,” Dover said. “For 50 years, America’s electric cooperatives have invested in our students by hosting an annual youth tour in Washington, D.C. – allowing some of our best and brightest students to gain first-hand insight. This grant program builds on that investment, and gives our students the tools to expand their resume while applying what they’ve learned to directly benefit their community.
“This project will allow White County High School to give back to the community and learn valuable hands-on leadership skills at the same time. We’re honored to be able to help Morgan give back to her community, and look forward to watching her grow into a future leader.”
The grant will go to the White County High School’s Secret Closet. This supply closet was begun by the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society for students unable to access clothing, food, hygiene items and school supplies otherwise. The program is designed to be anonymous, with school staff overseeing the closet in order to protect the students’ privacy.
“The Secret Closet empowers students to reach their full potential without ridicule or judgment from their peers. It is unfair for any student to not have access to items they need, but it is especially important when it affects their self-worth and academic success,” West explained in her grant application.
Grant winners were chosen from a pool of applicants, all of whom participated in the 2014 Washington Youth Tour. West was one of two delegates to represent Habersham EMC this year. For additional information regarding the Washington Youth Tour, please visit http://tinyurl.com/l9w6zqq.
As Points of Light’s youth service enterprise, generationOn inspires, equips and mobilizes youth to take action through generationOn service clubs, schools, youth organizations, campaigns and youth leadership initiatives. It also provides tools and resources to youth, families and educators to help kids change the world and themselves through service. For more information, visit generationon.org.
