Chichester senior honored for her writing
UPPER CHICHESTER » The Chichester School Board, during a recent meeting, presented Chichester High School senior Melanie Dempsey with a framed certificate for having an essay published in a recent edition of IMAGINE, a Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth magazine.
Dempsey said her essay titled “Helping Hands, Helping Hearts,” recounted her experiences with younger students who she, and six other Chichester students mentored.
As part of the high school gifted program, Dempsey was asked to create a project of her own choosing. With assistance from teachers Janean Ciancia and Christine Pruitt, Dempsey wrote lesson plans and implemented a program for students in kindergarten through fourth grade at Hilltop Elementary School.
“I always wanted to be part of the Big Sisters of America program, but I was always too young,” Dempsey said. “But, I never lost the passion for working with children and to educate young people. With Helping Hearts, I had the chance and jumped at the opportunity.”
The program, which took place once a week for three months, assisted 18 young students with social and communication skills. Each week’s curriculum centered around a theme, which included around the world, kindness, selfesteem, friendship and teamwork to name a few.
“It is very important for children to have positive role models,” Dempsey said. “It was an amazing opportunity and real life experience that I would have not had otherwise ... I really believe we made a difference in their lives and the group of student mentors were the best.”
Dempsey, the daughter of Eileen Dempsey, is director of the student run choir and president of the school concert choir. She is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society,Tri-M Music Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, and the Science Olympiad.
She hopes to attend college to double major in early childhood education/business administration and management.
The ultimate publication of her essay was a long, tedious process. Dempsey was instructed to first submit a query to the magazine and then write a 1200 word essay on the subject of her choosing.
As for the program itself, Dempsey hopes for it to continue and expand to the other Chichester District elementary schools.
In presenting the plaque, school board President Ruth Ann Baiocco congratulated Dempsey on behalf of the entire board.
“I can’t tell you how amazing you are,” Baiocco said. “We are so proud to have you as one of our students and wish you the best of luck in the future.”