The Maryland Student Service Alliance (MSSA) and Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) honored students, teachers, principals, and community-based organizations for their leadership in the field of service-learning at Maryland's Service-Learning Leadership Recognition Reception.

Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. A. Skipp Sanders, welcomed the 250 attendees to the awards ceremony as he spoke of the impact quality service-learning has on Maryland's students. His remarks were followed by Luke F. Frazier, Executive Director of the Maryland Student Service Alliance, who delivered a speech addressing the qualities of "Organic Leadership."

The awards began with the first ever Community-Based Organizations Service-Learning Leadership Award. This was bestowed on eight organizations from across Maryland that provide exceptional service-learning opportunities for students. These organizations involve a large proportion of the school systems' students in service-learning opportunities, produce quality service-learning curriculum, generate positive media attention for service-learning, and provide significant community assistance through student efforts:

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Nominated by Anne Arundel County
• Christmas in April * St. Mary's, Nominated by St. Mary's County
• Montgomery County Volunteer Center, Nominated by Montgomery County
• Oakland - Mountain Lake Park Lions Club, Nominated by Garrett County
• Students Sharing Coalition, Nominated by Baltimore County
• Surfrider Foundation - Ocean City Chapter, Nominated by Worcester County
• ThorpeWood, Nominated by Carroll County
• Volunteer Frederick, Nominated by Frederick County

Prior to the distribution of this year's high school student awards, Shayla Hunter, an 11th grade student at W.E.B. Dubois High School and 2003 Service Star recipient, shared her service reflections and inspiration with the audience. Shayla then helped recognize Maryland's 2004 Service Stars. These 44 high school students were recognized for the extraordinary contributions they give to their communities through service-learning and for their leadership promoting service among their peers.

2004 Service Stars

Twelve teachers were inducted as Service-Learning Fellows, Class of 2004, for their ability to create exemplary service-learning experiences for their students and provide expertise to their peers. They join a cadre of nearly 150 veteran Fellows representing all 24 Maryland school districts, as they promote high quality service-learning throughout the state:

• Wendeline Borowski, Somerset Elementary School, Montgomery County
• Stephen Fletcher, Eastern Middle School, Montgomery County
• Kathleen Floyd, Easton Middle School, Talbot County
• Amanda Furajter, Windsor Knolls Middle School, Frederick County
• Jennifer Hallmark, Benjamin Banneker Middle School, Montgomery County
• Charlene Haynie, Henry E. Lackey High School, Charles County
• Brad Hoffman, Somerset Elementary School, Montgomery County
• Cynthia Ingram, Pine Grove Middle School, Baltimore County
• Lawrence Myers, Smithsburg Middle School, Washington County
• Alan Rusnak, Cherry Hill Middle School, Cecil County
• Janet Scollick, Julius West Middle School, Montgomery County
• Sue Walls, Stephen Decatur Middle School, Worcester County

2004 Fellows

Eleven principal leaders were recognized as Principal Service-Learning Leaders for their exemplary service-learning leadership efforts. These principals support teachers, ensure program accountability, promote high quality service-learning, and serve as leaders for their peers as they advance the quality and visibility of service-learning in their schools, school systems, and beyond. This year's Service-Learning Principal of the Year, Mr. William Ekey, is a principal at C. Milton Wright High School in Harford County. Bill also gave a speech. The Service-Learning Principal Leader Honorable Mention Award Winners are:

• Dr. Jane Barranger, Towson High School, Baltimore County
• Sherri-Le Bream, Winters Mill High School, Carroll County
• David Brubaker, E. B. Wood Middle School, Montgomery County
• Larry Martin, Westlake High School, Charles County
• Kimberly Roof, Mill Creek Middle School, Calvert County
• Patrick Saunderson, Lime Kiln Middle School, Howard County
• Dr. Paul Strickler, Arundel Middle School, Anne Arundel County
• Gwendola Taliaferro, Lombard Middle School, Baltimore City
• Louis Taylor, Stephen Decatur High School, Worcester County
• Tom Woods, Southern Garrett High School, Garrett County

The final awards were distributed to five of Maryland's LEA Service-Learning Coordinator Leaders who go to extraordinary lengths to continuously improve their local school systems' service-learning program and provide high quality service-learning experiences for all students:

• Joshua Fradel, Worcester County Public Schools
• Pam Meador, Montgomery County Public Schools
• Sean Patterson, Baltimore County Public Schools
• Estelle Sanzenbacher, Carroll County Public Schools
• Max White, Frederick County Public Schools

Hope R. Harrington, Maryland Student Service Alliance Advisory Board Chair and Talbot County Commissioner, provided the closing remarks and saluted all for their dedication to service-learning.