Outstanding Student Award 2013 Kelsey J. West Junior Fairview High School STLP

My Start I transferred schools to Fairview Independent this year and for the first time was able to participate in STLP at the high school level and it has been one of the best things about my new environment. Not only has it made my transition to a new school easier but it has introduced me to so many new people who share the same likes and dislikes that I embrace. I have jumped into the program wholeheartedly and have been rewarded with a truly wonderful experience. This year I am a part of a successful group and am currently working on the Hand-a-Heart, Incorporated Project. I founded Hand- a-Heart when I was 13 and am CEO of the organization which benefits kids and teens with Juvenile Arthritis and other Auto-immune diseases.

Goal #1 With STLP I have been able to begin making Hand-a-Heart, Incorporated, a success. I have used technology in all advertising, communication, production and educational aspects of the organization. My STLP sponsor, Missy Murray, has become very active in Hand-a-Heart, pushing me to achieve its full potential I also recruited Mrs. Murray, Tonia Parker (another STLP Sponsor), Davis Hoffman (a fellow student) and Rhonda West (mother) for executive directors on my Board of directors as well as organizing a Student Advisory Board made up of 12 students; all Board meetings take place after school.

Goal #2 As I mentioned before I wanted to involve students within my school with Hand-a-Heart, Inc. so the Student Advisory Board was formed. It is a selected group of 12 students that differ in age, gender and backgrounds and gives them leadership positions within an actual non-profit corporation. As CEO I have make the executive decision on all proposals, which are submitted to the Board of Directors through either Skype or Blogger, but a position on the Student Advisory Board gives my fellow students the opportunity to experience a position in a business which could ultimately lead them in the direction of a career in business. All board members will receive coaching from me and associates on how to manage different jobs that include graphic design, communication, et. Al.

Goal #3 One of the goals of Hand-a-Heart, Inc. is to inform the community of the severity of Arthritis and the physical, mental and emotional pain victims experience. At the moment we are working with officers in the Arthritis Foundation out of Cincinnati, and Kentucky’s Innovative Network to assemble and make accessible educational information for all different grade levels. This information will be useful to a wide audience; it will teach teachers how to deal with an arthritic child in class, it will teach students the importance of tolerance and acceptance and I will use the information in speeches, lectures, and presentations.

Goal #4 The technology has become a bigger part of my organization than I ever could have imagined. I use technology to manage my website to track membership activity off my Google account, to create brochures and advertisement material, to create logos, compile educational information, film Public Service Announcements and Interviews, even to communicate with board members and partners. This help wouldn’t have been available to me without STLP, I have had these skills taught to me by my STLP sponsor and other STLP members and am pleased that I am able to pass on the knowledge to my Student Advisory Board Members and use it to further the success of Hand-a- Heart, Inc.

Goal #5 As the face of Hand-a-Heart, Inc. I hope that the message I am trying to spread to my community reaches as far as it is able. I want to teach tolerance, acceptance and compassion to help these victims. The Kentucky Music Teacher’s Association helped us organize our first fundraiser, a piano play-a-thon and though that has been our main event so far we have also created a glove drive (run by Cole Murray), entered a tree in the Paramount Arts Center annual Festival of Trees, and hope to host a walk in Westwood, Ky, have a sponsored basketball game at Fairview High School, and speak at schools in the area. Our hopes are almost as high as our expectations.

Goal #6 We are currently in the process of compiling educational materials that will focus on a wide range audience. Some material will be from teachers: activities on how to teach students compassion and tolerance, as well as dealing with a disabled student Some for fellow students on how to treat others with Juvenile Arthritis. And others for parents and family members to teach them how to best adapt their environment for the child’s disability I will be using this material later in the year when I speak publically at local schools and conventions. All materials will be accessible through our website and through our mobile app, as well as traditional mailing system.

Leadership They say that starting small and working up is the best way to work and I happen to agree. I also believe that I am luckier than most in the fact that I am able to start my journey with Hand-a-Heart, Inc. at Fairview. The people here have worked their hardest to accommodate me and my goals. I’ve been able to lead the others in the direction of bettering Hand-a-Heart, Inc.

Products Hand-a-Heart, Inc. wants to do more than just raise awareness. We are producing products now as well. Through the tools I have been given in STLP a logo was designed, to be placed on any digital, printed or tangible materials. A list of our products would be: T-shirts, Laptops, Wheelchairs, business cards, pamphlets, water bottles, etc. STLP Products include: a Documentary and Public Service Announcement (Accomplished through a partnership with Eagle One News), the multimedia category, and the digital story telling category.

Services The main service we advocate at Hand-a-Heart, Incorporated, is being a support group. We want clients (which include Arthritis victims) to be able to talk to us. Now that I am able to understand and manage technology, it has become easier to incorporate Skype and other technological aspects into our everyday activity We also offer our website, and contact information is located on that pagewww.handaheart.org My STLP Service Includes: Presenter, which I applied for with my Executive Media Director, Davis Hoffman.

Creativity and innovation Right now we are working on trying to incorporated today’s popular items and adapt them to be kid-friendly. We want people to know about Arthritis, be able to understand it in a younger generation, so I am organizing a compilation of different educational materials. They will be geared to different audiences; teachers, students, parents, etc., and all different age groups. These educational items will be included on our app which we hope to have up and running soon.

Reflection Without the help, support and participation in STLP, I never would have gotten my organization off the ground. Being a Teen CEO with Arthritis is stressful but with constant encouragement I have overcome major obstacles. After battling Arthritis for four years now I have came to a point where I can put the need’s of other’s over mine. Thanks to STLP I learned how to manage lighting and camera angles to film a Public Service Announcement and a documentary, I learned how to properly use iMovie, I learned how to create an entire logo, incorporate technology into a tiny business card and realized that technology is all around me, and if I use the proper tools it can lead me personally and my organization Hand-a-Heart, Inc. to a great place.