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By Josh Perry
Hometown Weekly Staff
Katie Mullen, a senior at Needham High, recently received the RAY of Hope for the month of February from Needham Youth Services. The award honors students who are committed to giving back to the community and highlights the service done by students.
Mullen was nominated for her work in the Youth Services VIP (Valuable Interaction among Peers) program. She mentors elementary school students and shares advice on how to manage the issues that come up at that age.
She has been involved with the program for four years. In a press release from Needham Youth Services, Mullen explained, “We have built a strong relationship and I hope that I’ve had as big of an impact on their lives as they have had on mine.”
The press release continued, “Katie has a passion for helping others, whether it is coordinating student government events, tutoring in a special education classroom, or educating middle school students about refusal skills for substance abuse prevention.”
In addition to the VIP program, Mullen has also been a member of Students Acting to Make a Difference (SAMD), a group of Needham High actors and actresses who produce shows for charity. She is also a member of the a cappella group, The Treble Rebels, which raised $10,000 for this spring’s Relay for Life.
“All these activities have helped me to figure out that this is what I want to do with my life, which is give back to my community,” said Mullen. “Balancing academics with involvement is a necessity to me because volunteering and being involved in my community gives my life purpose.”
“Volunteering in the Needham Community has been the highlight of my high school experience.”
For more information about RAY of Hope, visit www.needhamma.gov/youth/ray.
Watch a video of the ceremony from The Needham Channel below:
Josh Perry is an Editor at Hometown Weekly. He can be reached at news@hometownweekly.net and followed on Twitter at @Josh_Perry10.
