The Center for Gifted Studies

Bowling Green, Kentucky – The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU announces the award recipients for the 2022-23 Doctors Mody Service Learning Competitions for Young People. Drs. Bharat and Bharati Mody established the Mody Endowed Fund in Service Learning at The Center for Gifted Studies to promote their lifelong commitment to serving their communities and sparking a passion for volunteerism among high-ability young people.

Four awards were given to students to develop an original service learning and volunteerism project, to develop and expand an existing project, or to respond to a specific community need.

First place ($1,500 award): Haleigh Dennison and Brooklyn Rich, Caverna High School; project involves connecting elderly in assisted living with family and friends through technology.

Second place ($1,000): Eli Mefford, Greenwood High School, and Albert Mbanfu, The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science/Greenwood High School; project involves hosting a basketball clinic for teens associated with the International Center of Bowling Green.

Third place ($500/tie): Avery Oliver, Shelby County East Middle School; project involves addressing the problem of child hunger in her community with a food drive to support the backpack program through the Serenity Center.

Third place ($500/tie): Karigan Tingle, Shelby County East Middle School; project involves expanding her previous efforts to show appreciation to teachers by encouraging students at her school to take an active role in the process.

Students who participated in the SCATS and/or VAMPY summer enrichment programs through The Center or who are currently enrolled in The Gatton Academy were eligible for microgrants of $500. This year’s winners are:

Savannah Isaacs, University Heights Academy in Christian County; project involves expanding an existing community garden to address food shortages in her community.

Abby Jones, The Gatton Academy/South Warren High School; project involves assisting the Room in the Inn program by addressing needs of individuals who are homeless.

Flora Lin, The Gatton Academy/Glasgow High School; project involves working with organizations tied to The Gatton Academy Leaders in Education (GALE) to connect with local schools who have identified specific needs and work to address the resource shortages.

Jayanah Nuckols, Jasmine Reed, and Allyssa Carter, Caverna High School; project involves creating a program to build confidence and provide support systems for young women.

Myranda Parr, Union City High School; project involves expanding a previous literacy project with construction of Little Free Library boxes in her community.

Award funding will go directly to the project and will be completed by the end of the school year. Visit https://www.wku.edu/gifted/service/ or contact Elizabeth Joyce at elizabeth.joyce@wku.edu or (270) 745-6323.