Community Corner

Swampscott Middle School Student Selected as 'Ambassador'

Students from towns and cities throughout Massachusetts will celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. with a day of service on Saturday, Jan. 14.

 

Eighth grader Sara Cunningham is an honor roll student who is outgoing and looks out for friends and classmates.

She will also represent Swampscott on Saturday at the governor's Project 351, a day of service celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Sara was nominated by her in part, for her leadership, empathy and willingness to speak up in defense of others.

Her public service is extensive.

Find out what's happening in Swampscottwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

She volunteers at My Brother's Table — a Lynn program that feeds hungry people — often, and has been doing so since about the third grade.

She has also volunteered at Cradle to Crayons and donates money she earns to the Northeast Animal Shelter, said her dad, Kelly Cunningham.

"Last year she and her best friend Shannon Brawley started a little flower pencil "business" where they took pencils and made pretty flowers at one end out of colored duct tape," Kelly said. "They took the money they made and donated it to Hospice Care in memory of Mrs. Pye."

Keli Khatib, the mom of one of Sara's friends, Cenna Khatib, says that Sara always wants to make sure that her friends are feeling good when they are together.

"She is just a delight to be around," Keli said.

Sara has also participated in charitable events held at Temple Emanu-El, to which she belongs, and was a member of the Tzedaka (charity) Committee that decides what charitable causes the Temple should donate to in a given year, her dad said.

Her parents, Kelly and Pamela Kaplan, are proud of their daughter.

"We are very glad that others see in her the same wonderful traits that we see: her empathy, her kindness, her work ethic, and her academic abilities," he said. "She's a great daughter and we know she'll make a great ambassador for Swampscott."

Project 351 was launched during Gov. Deval Patrick’s inaugural in 2010, and promotes youth leadership and inspires service.

It brings together students from throughout the state's 351 towns and cities.

Moira Landry was Swampscott's first Project 351 representative in 2011. She spent her day of service at inner city sites with other Project 351ers painting walls and halls, cleaning floors and moving boxes.

The young people participating were all nominated by education leaders in their hometowns, based on their exemplary service ethic and spirit of generosity, according to 351 organizers. 

 Last year’s day of service helped more than 10,000 children. 


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