March 22, 2012 News 3

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Xavier juniors graduate from Youth LeadershipXavier High School juniors

Patrick Mullin, Craig Murtha, and Natalie Schrader graduated from the Youth Leadership for Five Seasons program on March 7.

The Cedar Rapids Area Cham-ber of Commerce designed the Leadership for Five Seasons to prepare leaders in the area to be-come active in shaping the com-munity and enhancing the qual-ity of life. The program has been around for about 30 years and has over 1000 alumni. The program is for high school juniors in the metro Cedar Rapids area. It is a program during the school year that requires students to partici-pate in monthly events to deepen their awareness of the needs and resources of the community. This year it had 40 students graduate.

High schools in the Cedar Rapids area are allowed a certain number of participants. Xavier is allowed three participants as well as one alternate. Each year, all sophomores are given an ap-plication. Interested students should be able to attend all of the sessions listed on the application, express interest in learning more

about their community, and demonstrate leadership in their activities. The application pro-cess usually begins in the spring for the current sophomore class. The administrative team at Xavi-er then chooses the fi nal three participants and the alternate. Although this year there were none off ered, in the past there have been scholarships off ered at graduation.

This year, students had many

opportunities to work with com-munity leaders and discover new opportunities the Cedar Rapids area has to off er. “I learned that Iowa isn’t quite as boring as some seem to think,” Schrader said. The students looked at problems faced by the city and community. One opportunity was a police ride along to see the correctional methods used by the city. They also saw the kinds of services of-fered to residents of Cedar Rap-

ids. The group did service work, such as collecting toiletry items for shelters. They also met with company leaders and discussed issues pertaining to teenagers and the less fortunate. Students also met with the Cedar Rapids mayor, city manager, and repre-sentatives to tell them their con-cerns and off er suggestions.

Xavier’s graduates of the youth program this year recom-mend this experience to under-classmen. “It’s a great reason to get out of school to be with fun people that you would not nor-mally see, and it’s a great way to learn about all that Cedar Rapids gives us fi rst-hand,” Mullin said.

Mr. Schemmel, a Xavier guid-ance counselor, also recommends the experience. “Students get to see things they don’t normally have the opportunity to see,” Schemmel said.

“You will fi nd out about how you can give back to your com-munity,” Schrader added.

Carolina VonKampenNews Writer

Student organizes non-perishable food driveThis year, eight Xavier seniors

are enrolled in an alternative Theology course called Ministry and Service. These students are required to do 60 hours of service,

Juniors Craig Murtha, Natalie Schrader, and Patrick Mullin graduate from the Youth Leadership for Five Seasons program on March 7. Kerry McCartan Photo

all outside of school. The students are also required to write a paper and make a powerpoint presentation at the end of the semester.

The service is not just

volunteering, however. The students must set up their service throu gh an organization on their own. They must design a project to help the organization of their choice and manage the project to its completion.

Senior Rachel Flaherty is taking Ministry and Service this year. She has organized a peanut butter drive for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The price of peanut butter has gone up in the past few years, so the food pantry at St. Vincent is running low. She is also accepting Ramen Noodles, mac n’ cheese, and tuna.

“It’s not just doing service,” Flaherty said. “It pushes me out of my comfort zone, it makes me do more service in the com-munity, and helps me to get oth-ers involved. I love it because I’m putting a semester to use.”

The Peanut Butter Drive will run until Friday, March 23. Donations can be dropped off in the main offi ce.

Anna BusseNews Writer Senior Rachel Flaherty

advertised and collected food for her service project. Kerry McCartan and Ann Glavan Photos