Focused Youth Volunteers Acknowledged: Notable Dedication in Fürth County
The Furth Awards ceremony, held at the cinema in Großhabersdorf, recognised over 275 student volunteers from various schools in the district, including middle school students, for their exceptional contributions to community service, education, and sustainability initiatives.
The event, organised by the School Specialist Group of the 1-2-3 e.V. prevention association, honoured a diverse group of students, ranging from high school to college levels. Among the honorees were 29 mediators and 42 school nurses who have made significant differences in their respective roles.
Volunteers like Anthony Kousharian at Muir Woods National Monument were commended for their educational and operational support roles, such as delivering interpretive talks, simplifying complex scientific concepts for visitors, conducting research related to park sustainability, creating outreach videos, and covering visitor center duties during peak times. These roles emphasise public engagement, education, and support for park operations.
Individual recognitions were featured, including high school students and college student-athletes. For example, one award highlighted a student-athlete honoured for outstanding community service alongside others inducted into academic honor societies. Additionally, other awards such as the Charles Strobel Legacy of Service Award mentioned individual honorees actively volunteering hundreds of hours, indicating a diverse and substantial pool of awardees.
The awards spotlighted a wide range of volunteer activities linked to educational institutions. These included participation in sustainability initiatives, organising awareness and fundraising events like Cystic Fibrosis and Breast Cancer Awareness games, serving as lab assistants within engineering departments, and involvement with campus sustainability committees and advocacy groups. Athletic participation and leadership (e.g., team captains supporting community service efforts) were also honoured, reflecting a holistic appreciation of volunteerism integrated with academic and extracurricular commitments.
Children from the Roßtal elementary school were also honoured as junior helpers. The honoured elementary school students watched "Lilo & Stitch" as a treat, while the middle school students watched "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World." Both screenings were accompanied by popcorn and drinks.
Distinguished guests at the event included District Administrator Bernd Obst, representatives of the school supervision, and the first mayor of Großhabersdorf, Thomas Zehmeister. The district administrator emphasised that the award is a clear statement of engagement being valued in the district of Fürth.
Two days later, 110 elementary school students were honoured, bringing the total number of recognised students to over 380. The teachers and school principals were thanked for making the event possible despite limited resources.
References: [1] Volunteer roles:
The event's honorees also included middle school students who have shown dedication towards community service, education, and sustainability initiatives, expanding the diversity of recognized students. As part of their training and education-and-self-development, these students have contributed to various programs like organizing awareness events and serving as junior helpers.
In light of their exceptional service, some middle school students were awarded for their involvement in volunteer activities, such as acting as junior helpers or participating in sustainability initiatives. This highlights the importance of ongoing training and education-and-self-development for students, regardless of age or level.
