"It was really awesome just being recognized for everything I've done, to see how appreciative everyone was. My parents are super proud I got the award," Christy said.
She earned the bulk of her hours tutoring and mentoring students at Boonsboro Elementary School before school for three years. Christy, the daughter of Rick and Teresa Midgett of Keedysville, also volunteered at a summer camp for underprivileged children and children with disabilities for four years.
"I love working with kids," said Christy, who said she probably volunteered more hours than she accounted for.
She said she never expected to get that many hours. Before freshman year, Christy, who has an older brother and younger sister, began considering how she would earn her hours.
It was her mother, a Boonsboro Elementary School PTA member, who suggested she volunteer there. Christy has worked as an aide to fourth-grade teacher Robin Michael.
"Christy was a huge help to me in the morning. She worked with the children, helping them with reading and math skills ... I could rely on the fact that she would be there on a daily basis. She was a hard worker and the children loved her," Michael wrote in an e-mail.
Christy will attend Bridgewater College in Virginia in the fall, majoring in psychology and working toward her goal of being a child psychologist.
She said she used her volunteer experiences when writing her college admission essay for Bridgewater.
Christy babysits and has been riding horses since she was 5 years old. She also served on the Link crew, a mentoring/role model program of student leaders who help ease the transition from middle school to high school for incoming freshmen. She was on the junior and senior class cabinet and student council at Boonsboro High.
"I like making a difference. Service hours are definitely a way to do it," Christy said.
