FBISD Student Leadership Group Learns Importance of Community Service

Members of Fort Bend ISD’s Student Leadership Program focused on community service during their final session of the program. Sponsored by Steve Smelley, FBISD Board Vice President and Sugar Land Rotarian, the workshop gave students the opportunity to meet with members of various service agencies and organizations that specialize in helping those in need and giving back to their communities.

“We want our student leadership group to be exposed to as many service-learning opportunities as possible,” said Smelley. “By allowing them to interact with individuals from various service organizations, the students learn the importance of putting service above self and that by doing so they are contributing to the betterment of our community and our world,” he added.

To begin the day’s events, the students first visited the historic Lakeview Auditorium, where they met with Merle and Don Smithers, Board Members of the Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation; Bruce Kelly, Board Member of the Sugar Heritage Foundation and Fort Bend Historical Commission; and Braden Morris and Dinetta Ireland, Fort Bend County literacy volunteers. Each stressed the importance of connecting with service organizations that can best utilize your talents and skills when seeking out volunteer opportunities.

Bruce Kelly also advised students to think big and globally when researching volunteer opportunities. “Find a cause that interests you and once you become a part of a volunteer team, treat the experience as an actual job. Be dedicated, take it seriously and show up on time,” added Kelly.

Following their visit to the Lakeview Auditorium, the students visited the Bethel Ministries facilities in Stafford to meet with Becky Torres of Bethel Ministries and Carolyn Tarver of Project SMILE. Torres and Tarver spoke of how each organization was established. They also spoke of the need for ongoing volunteer support and managed to recruit a few Student Leadership participants, who signed up to volunteer after school.

The student leaders extended their stay in Stafford by visiting the East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry. Courtney Howard, Volunteer and Event Coordinator, welcomed students to the facility and gave them a brief history on the ministry, explaining its purpose, which is to address the basic human needs of families in temporary financial crisis in East Fort Bend County. Howard then led students on a tour of the ministry’s food pantry and enlisted their help in stocking food shelves and preparing family meal packages.

Following their visit to the East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry, the student leaders joined Steve Smelley and his fellow Sugar Land Rotarians for a business luncheon at the Sweetwater Country Club. The students interacted with community and business leaders, while learning about the service club organization and its role in our community.

“Being able to interact with top community leaders and having the opportunity to learn about different aspects of our community has been an amazing experience that I will carry with me the rest of my life,” said Stavinoha Bradley of Bush High School. The Student Leadership participants will be recognized by the FBISD Board of Trustees at its May 18 business meeting.