CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Catholic graduate Kayleigh Anne Ruller was recently honored as the 2017 winner of the Charlotte Catholic High School Foundation’s annual Service Award.
The CCHS Foundation Service Award was established to recognize a graduating senior solely for his or her community service. It is presented to a senior who not only spends many hours serving the community, but also who chooses several different kinds of service. School spirit, empathy, compassion, dedication and diversity of service are all characteristics of the winner of this scholarship. Campus Ministry faculty and staff nominate students who meet the criteria. A selection committee, comprised of the Campus Ministry director, a guidance counselor, a member of the foundation’s board of directors, and a member of the school administration, select the winner.
The diversity and amount of Ruller’s service to the community impressed the committee. She volunteered with a muffin ministry for the homeless at her church, as a peer minister at Charlotte Catholic, with faith formation at her church, as a Charlotte Catholic student ambassador, on the school’s retreat team, and at the Blumenthal Theatre in Charlotte.
Jamie Boll, foundation secretary, presented the award. “Being a part of this Catholic community, you know your real legacy as a class is your service to others,” Boll said. “Kayleigh has embraced that part of our faith, and we are very proud of her for it.”
Ruller is now enrolled at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
The CCHS Foundation was established in 1974 with a mission to enrich the spiritual, academic, and cultural development of students by raising funds to support Charlotte Catholic High School. With the support of the Charlotte Catholic community, it has raised more than $1 million for the school.
— Carolyn Kramer Tillman
KERNERSVILLE — North Carolina author and retired news anchor Cameron Kent kicked off the first day of school Aug. 24 at Bishop McGuinness with a school-wide assembly to discuss his book, “Road to Devotion,” which was a selection from the school’s annual summer reading program.
This year the theme of summer reading was entitled, “Home Grown,” reflecting the selection of 13 books by North Carolina authors. The entire school community individually chose one of the designated books to read and journal over the summer.
On Aug. 28 an entire day was scheduled for book group discussions, learning service and an assembly with North Carolina author James Dodson who shared his book, “Final Rounds.”
The Bishop community celebrated in the courtyard of the school with a catered barbecue lunch and a bluegrass band. Each book group built a little library as a service project. The little libraries will be placed in various locations around the community.
— Kimberly Knox