More than 40 students at McDill Elementary School and their advisors recently were recognized nationally – the only elementary school in the state to be honored – for their efforts throughout the school year raising money and conducting service projects for more than a dozen local organizations.

The McDill Elementary School Student Council won the Honor Student Council Excellence Award from the National Association of Elementary School Principals this spring, following a full year of monthly projects and several fundraising efforts that benefitted organizations such as the Humane Society of Portage County, the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County and Saint Michael’s Foundation.

“The group of students this year has been amazing and enthusiastic,” said Jami Stuettgen, one of three advisers for the council. “They have embraced working with our students and have shown strong leadership skills. Our student council has made an impact in many ways within the community and our school climate.

“Of course, we are very proud of the awards we have received, but honestly, I think that it is secondary to having the opportunity to teach children to be good citizens and that they are an important part of a great community,” she said. “Hopefully the recognition we have received will inspire other groups to see the value of donating time to make our community a better place.”

Student Council members join in fourth grade and can continue through sixth grade. Each year, they meet at the beginning of the year and choose service projects and fundraisers with advice and guidance from the advisers.

“Some we carry over from year to year, but the Student Council will come up with different ideas and take a vote,” said Nate Streveler, who heads into seventh-grade at Ben Franklin Junior High School in the fall.

“You get to help out students in other grades, meet other people from the district, elderly people and people from different businesses,” he said. “It’s helping the community in different ways. I feel happy and proud.”

Each grade level will have a service project each month. The grade level and project rotates throughout the year so by the end, all grades have participated in a service project. Student Council members prepare the projects and will assist the different grades with creation and completion.

Some projects this year included creating placemats and decorating bags for donations to Operation Bootstrap; putting together birthday bags for children staying at The Salvation Army, designing craft bags and donating games and art supplies for children at the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, writing letters and sending care packages to troops in Afghanistan, creating treat bags for the Humane Society and assembling snack bags for the Boys & Girls Club.

“My favorite one was doing medallions for the Humane Society,” said Haley Ligman, who also will be headed to Ben Franklin in the fall. “What I really liked about it is it brings something to the new owners. That’s where we got our family dog, so it’s giving back.”

Organization leaders say the student contributions help the groups continue their own missions, like the 400 snack bags for Boys & Girls Club..

“This is such a neat donation as it’s kids helping other kids,” said Executive Director Kevin Quevillon. “These students recognize the value of giving back to their community, and we very much appreciate that they choose to do this in a way that helps their fellow students as well as supporting our mission.”

Humane Society members share similar emotions with the efforts of the sixth-graders’ December bazaar, with proceeds going to the group and the medallions and treat boxes done by the second-graders the past two years.

“It is obvious to us that these are kids of character that care for critters and their community,” said director Chris Langenfeld. “We couldn’t do what we do without such wonderful support.”

The variety of groups and organizations that benefit from the projects keeps the students interested, but knowing they make a difference is what continues to drive them each year, not just to do projects but also hold fundraising events, like the penny challenge that raised hundreds of dollars for a fellow student’s family to assist with high medical bills.

“It’s very important that we give back to the community,” said Hanah Ligman, Haley’s twin sister. Their younger sister, Hayden, also is in Student Council. “We want to do everything we can to make the world a better place.”

Along with Stuettgen, McDill Student Council advisers are Christy Lewallen and Tori Suhs.

Council members include Delilah Abundiz, Grace Babl, Allison Bena, Cael Bolton, Giana Bolton, Andrew Bostwick, Shelby Brooks, Jaden Bruesewitz, Luke Carlson, Brennan Delaney, Olivia DeWitt, Jack Diekelman;

Matthew Ebben, Michael Ebben, Rose Fonti, Kylie Groshek, Hannah Hojnacki, Sarah Hopp, Abby Jossie, Emma Jossie, Trent Leonard, John Libby Jr., Hadyn Ligman, Haley Ligman, Hanah Ligman, Hailey Mancel, Nicole Marki, Quinton Martin, Emma Meronek (President), Alexandra Molski;

Isabella Nimm, Alexa Parry, Avery Pezewski, Nathan Sankey, Madeline Sapp, Camille Schoenberg, Ella Solin, Krishiv Sreejith, Skylur Stanczyk, Nathan Streveler, Sylvia Tepp, Trinity Vang and Ben Wunrow.