Home Page: MARY LOUISE SYMON AWARD
|
MARY LOUISE SYMON MEMORIAL AWARD
2014 Mary Louise Symon Award Winners are Lauren Drachenberg (River Valley HS)
In recommending Lauren for the award, one of her supporters said, “Lauren has made the act of serving others and giving of herself a lifestyle” --- whether she is on a mission trip to Ghana in Africa or busy planning a school assembly. Although Lauren has a long list of volunteer and services groups she is involved with, “whether in Spring Green or Ghana, she serves with enthusiasm, a genuine heart and a positive attitude that is contagious”, reflecting the values Mary Louise Symon exemplified.
and 
Deborah Heth (Mineral Point HS)
Deborah Heth also exhibited Mary Louise Symon’s breadth of interests. Deborah is not only a Black Belt, assistant Tae Kwon-Do instructor and the Iowa County 4-H Queen, one of her most impressive achievements is her involvement with the International Delta Dog Society, which trains both dogs and handlers to become therapy teams. With her dog, Joey, she visits local nursing homes and schools and is active with the Iowa County Humane Society. In addition, she recently returned from Washington, D.C., where she represented the “youth voice” for the UW Extension System, speaking with Congressional representatives about federal budgeting issues.
Purpose: Advance an agenda of social change consistent with Mary Louise 
Symon’s life-long vision. Ms.Symon blazed a path for women in politics. She was the first woman chair of the Dane County, WI Board of Supervisors. Throughout her life she remained deeply committed to creating an enlightened citizenry and advancing a broad social agenda including protecting the environment, preserving farmland and rural regions, making courts more humane, ensuring fair housing, and defending social services, among others. She was one of the founders of the Grassroots Citizens of Wisconsin.
Sponsor: Grassroots Citizens of Wisconsin.
Eligibility: One or more awards are granted annually to graduating seniors, male and female, from one of these area high schools: River Valley, Dodgeville, Mineral Point, Highland, Iowa-Grant, Barneveld, and Pecatonica who have exhibited a commitment to community service. Graduating home schooled seniors who meet the criteria and live in the areas served by the above schools are also eligible.
Monetary Award: $1,000 will be awarded to further the recipient’s leadership experience. The student may use the award to attend college, to perform a public service internship, to participate in a leadership conference or to participate in a similar activity.
Criteria: Awards will be based on the following criteria:
a. Participation in documented community engagement: school, church, the arts, or other volunteer efforts that demonstrates the applicant’s commitment to community service.
b. Two letters of support
c. Student-written essay on a topic demonstrating the applicant’s knowledge of social issues and commitment to community service. [Application form and essay criteria are in the application below.]
Timing: Applications for the Mary Louise Symon Memorial Community Service Award are due by April 15, 2014. Send them by mail to:
Grassroots Citizens of Wisconsin
Attn: Mary Ann McKenna
E2716 Porter Road
Lone Rock, Wisconsin 53556
OR submit them by email to: [email protected]
The award recipient(s) will be announced in May.
Promotion: Grassroots Citizens will assist in promoting the award in your
community, including brochures, press releases, and flyers in public places. The objective is to ensure a pool of applicants with diverse backgrounds. A representative of Grassroots Citizens will be available to present the Award at the school’s Awards Assembly.
Download the application (.pdf format) by clicking here
Past Winners: