Johnston students earn national awards for community service impact

JOHNSTON, Ia. (May 13, 2025) — A total of 264 Johnston High School students are being recognized nationally by the United Nations Association of the USA and InnerView in the eighth annual Community Service Impact Awards. 

This program aims to connect student community service activities, skill development and commitment to global goals to transform our world. Schools with a collectiveBc74cc 940f606 student impact above 2,000 hours of service — the equivalent of a full-time employee — are recognized with a School Impact Award. 

“As the sponsor of the Silver Cord program, I’ve witnessed firsthand how service transforms both communities and students themselves,” said Rachel Jensen, JHS Silver Cord sponsor. “Johnston High School’s achievement of 18,922+ hours of community service represents countless lives touched and problems solved.”

Childrens museumVolunteer service is also highlighted in Johnston through “Silver Cord,” a distinguished volunteer service award developed by JHS Student Council in 2011 which earns students a silver cord to wear at graduation if they complete a minimum of 50 hours of community service/volunteering during their sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school, for a total of at least 150 hours.

Giving back and gaining skills

Johnston’s 264 students received different types of national Community Service Impact Awards based on their number of volunteer hours. The three-tier award program recognizes a range of student achievement: Merit for 30 hours during the 2024-2025 school year, Honor for 60 hours, Ambassador for 100 hours, and special recognition for a focus on Zero Hunger and Zero Waste.

Through the award program, students gained a key artifact by developing a digital service resume for use in job and college applications to demonstrate personal commitment, 21st century skills and key areas of interest. 

Twenty-five JHS students who received the top awards included:

Ambassador Awardees (100+ hours of service): Margaret Filanowicz, Solene MacLean, Mariah Mason, Kendell McDonough, Talon Wanderscheid.Bc53e0 7441314

Honor Awardees (60+ hours of service): Syon Aggarwal, Jocelyn Andernacht, Madison Dirksen, Akul Gonchigar, Mal Hlui, Claire Holub, Sydney Houghton, Amelia Kaduce, Maddie Koenigs, Ivy Loo, Lucy Minger, Nolan Payne, Leann Petrak, Colton Pierce, Noah Rhea, Caitlyn Robertson, Rylie Ugulini, Taylor Westendorf, Avery Whitehead, Maleigha Wilkins

A list of all 264 JHS students receiving national Community Service Impact Awards can be found here.

JHS Junior Noah Rhea joined the Silver Cord program going into his sophomore year and received the Honor Award for volunteering more than 60 hours during the 2024-25 school year. A few of Rhea’s favorite volunteer opportunities have been volunteering as an assistant coach for the Iowa Phoenix football team and helping out with a Mud Run 5k race. 

“Volunteering in Des Moines showed me that volunteering is quite literally life-changing,” Rhea said. “I’ve learned multiple things from volunteering, like learning how to start a conversation out of nowhere. I have enjoyed doing it, and that’s why I continue to volunteer.”

Creating positive change

The Community Service Impact Awards aim to showcase not just the number of hours that students are giving to their communities. The awards also highlight the impact those service hours are having on others.

Softball camp“Today’s high school students are stepping up in extraordinary ways to address the critical challenges facing our communities,” said Kristine Sturgeon, CEO of InnerView Technologies. “This year’s awardees—part of a movement that contributed over 2 million hours of time and talent—are not only passionate but also purposeful, using their skills to lead with empathy, innovation and impact. It’s an honor to champion these changemakers, celebrate their achievements and help amplify their voices and service.”

 Jensen said volunteer service helps to develop well-rounded students who care about making a difference and helping others.

“Silver Cord doesn’t just recognize service hours, it celebrates the development of empathetic citizens who understand that their greatest education comes from giving back,” Jensen said. “These students will carry forward not just diplomas, but the profound understanding that their actions can create lasting positive change in our world.”