Resurrection Students Earn Leadership Evansville's
Andy and Tammy Featherstone got emotional March 12 when they announced one of three winners of Leadership Evansville’s Sam Featherstone Youth Award, which is named for their late son. After a few seconds, Andy regained enough composure to announce the winners of the award for a project: Resurrection Catholic School.
As a standing-room-only crowd of more than 1,000 offered a thunderous, enthusiastic ovation, Resurrection first-grade teachers Jennifer Meyer and Jennifer Vangampler escorted 24 of their 28 students (four could not attend) across the stage. The Featherstones congratulated each of them, and joined them outside the ballroom at the Old National Events Plaza for photos.
About Sam
When Sam passed away the morning of Jan. 2, 2013, he was a 19-year-old college freshman who had battled brain cancer for more three years. He had multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, and three brain surgeries; but despite all of these efforts, the cancer persisted and returned.
After graduating from Reitz Memorial High School as one of his class’ valedictorians, Sam was attending Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis on a full scholarship and had aspirations to become a pediatric oncologist, having received provisional admittance to the Indiana University School of Medicine class of 2016. Sam wanted to become a pediatric oncologist so that he could help children with brain tumors. But when he realized that that his time left on Earth was brief, he set new goals for himself – to raise awareness of the devastation caused by pediatric brain tumors, and to raise money for research to help find a cure for childhood brain cancer.
Sam mobilized family and friends to create “SamStrong: Search for the Cure,” a fundraiser held on Dec. 27, 2012, at St. John the Baptist Parish in Newburgh. Even as his health rapidly declined, Sam rallied his community to extraordinary heights of giving. In just a few weeks, Sam raised more than $180,000 to fund pediatric brain cancer research at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“Sam loved school,” Andy said after the photo shoot with Resurrection students and the winners of the other Sam Featherstone Youth Awards – Ashlie Eich and Josie Kirk (individual award), and Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library “Paws for Tales” (business/organization award). “And to see a group of children from the school system devoting their time to helping other people – that’s the whole message behind the Sam award. So it’s a very special night.”
About the Celebration of Leadership
Leadership Evansville presented 39 awards to a variety of individuals, projects and organizations during its 20th Annual Celebration of Leadership.
“Every single year since 1994, (Celebration of Leadership) has been creating the most diverse, magical and amazing night,” said Leadership Evansville Executive Director Lynn Miller-Pease. “There are so many positive things happening in our community, and we’ve provided a forum for telling those stories year after year. Yet, this anniversary year had an extra-special energy. Our community is really celebrating and believing in the servant leaders who are transforming their community!”
About Resurrection’s project
At Resurrection, the 28 first-graders received $5 each from their teachers early this school year to begin the “Make A Difference” program. They were encouraged to grow that initial amount for donation to charities. This year, the $140 they started with blossomed into donations totaling more than $4,076.
Here’s some perspective – the average for each student was more than double what the entire class started with.
“Teaching students the importance of helping those less fortunate, the first grade teachers, Mrs. Jennifer Meyer and Miss Jennifer VanGampler, at Resurrection Catholic School, provide students an opportunity to learn about charitable organizations throughout the community,” Andy Featherstone explained to the crowd as he announced the award. “With the premise of donating money to a charity, first-grade students are granted the choice to donate a set amount of money provided by the teachers, or to choose to raise funds for their organization themselves. Focusing on the importance of helping others, helping those in need, the teachers and students are making a difference – first-grade style.”
“To receive the Sam Featherstone Youth Award was very touching,” Resurrection Principal Theresa Berendes said. “The students knew it was a great honor to be nominated for this award. We had talked at school about how it is not about winning an award but rather about knowing in your hearts that we did a lot of good for many people because of their projects. We were very humbled to hear all of the great things the other nominees had completed.
“This award is extra special to me personally because I had the pleasure to teach Sam and Susan Featherstone during my teaching years at St. John the Baptist School,” Berendes added. “Their family has a special place in my heart. This award brought tears to my eyes because what our students did was a true reflection of the kind of person Sam Featherstone was.”
The complete group of first-graders who received the award include Isabella Allen, Jolene Bemis, Ebby Braker, Lucy Bretz, Gavynn Bright, Elly Bullock, Brayden Collins, Max Collins, Ingrid Damm, Kendra Davidson, Aidan Hochgesang, Will Hoffman, Reghan Hurt, Macy Lankford, Shayleigh Straus, Jac Collins, Tod Collins, Ella Harris,
Olivia Hollander, Eli Kane, Mackenzie Mills, Jordyn Munselle, Issac Pritchard, Cali Rheinlander, Lucas Rudolph, Asher Sanderson, Arabella Shoulders and Adley Wells.
The Message is grateful to Leadership Evansville Director of Operations Julie Moore for her assistance with this story.
