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Schools

Meet Whiz Kid: Olivia Paige

Avondale teen honored for outstanding service to others.

Name: Olivia Paige, 18

School: Atlanta Girls School

Accomplishments: This high school senior has a passion to serve others and a gift for inspiring others to do the same.  In recognition of her work, she was named “Teen Volunteer of the Year” by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Atlanta Chapter.

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She received the first place award at a ceremony honoring National
Philanthropy Day at the Georgia Aquarium among 1,000 attendees.

“She is not only a great volunteer, but a leader of volunteers,” said Amy Conlee, the Atlanta Girls School (AGS) intern coordinator who nominated her for the award. “She truly inspires and encourages others to participate.”

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The call to help others came at an early age for Olivia.

“I ‘ve been volunteering since I was about nine years old,” she said.  Her first experience helping others was delivering respite care for families with kids that had disabilities through a program at Decatur First United Methodist Church.

Since then she has found many ways to reach out to others. As founder of Service Clubs for both Upper and Middle Schools at AGS, she recruited members and developed service projects for students in grades 6 through 12. This year she plans to develop leadership within the groups and
expand their service reach.

Once a week at AGS she serves as a leader for Girl Talk, Inc.
 and recently was asked to serve on the National Teen Advisory Board for the organization. Girl Talk is a nationally recognized mentoring program for middle school girls to help them cope with the challenges of social stress, peer pressure and academics.

“The program provides a safe place and time for peers to talk about problems,” said Olivia. Through meetings, service projects and activities, girls build self esteem, develop leadership skills and recognize the value of community service.

She’s served locally at the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children, as a teen volunteer at Grady Hospital in the emergency room and as a tutor for Friends of Refugees in Clarkston and students at the International Community School.

She’s also participated in two international service trips in Ecuador and Kenya through the CARE Future Leaders Program. Last summer she spent nearly a month in Kenya teaching orphaned children English and science and helping build school rooms.

“I had a great experience on both of these trips and would like to do more," Olivia said.

“Her leadership of others leverages her time to enable greater change within our community,” said Conlee. “ At Atlanta Girls School she has raised the commitment of students of all ages to service, at the same time mentoring kindness and good behavior on all fronts.”

In her spare time, the Avondale Estates resident swims on the varsity swim team, plays volleyball and enjoys painting. She plans on studying nursing and sees herself working with kids in the future.

 

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