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Volunteering comes in many shapes and forms. We are ever-thankful for those who give their time. Elizabeth McCoury and Jared Neely have worked to make a meaningful difference by freely contributing their time to Star Achiever Academy YMCA. Elizabeth (adult) and Jared (teen) were recently recognized as the Star Achievers Academy YMCA's "Volunteers of the Year."
In her service to Star Achievers' as a board member, Elizabeth has embodied a spirit of dedication and commitment. She has coordinated and assisted with successful events such as the Breakfast with the Stars, the Cooper Elementary Accelerated Reading Program and the Mayors Book Club. She has also been instrumental in establishing new community partnerships for the program. Elizabeth brings a multitude of talents to Star Achievers Academy YMCA. In addition, she has served a key role on the Star Achievers Academy Executive Board. When asked about her service to Star Achievers Elizabeth stated "Service above self is why I volunteer; it is a great way to give back to our community and our leaders of tomorrow."
Jared Neely has served a very active role as a teen leader for the Star Achievers Academy YMCA program. Jared has volunteered and assisted numerous engineering and  technology programs at Cooper Elementary. He does not hesitate to accept leadership roles and has served on several committees for the city and his school. Mr. Neely has put in many volunteer hours to benefit the young people of Hampton VA.
He is currently in his freshmen year at Old Dominion University majoring in Engineering.
When asked about his service to Star Achievers Jared stated
"During my high school summer days, I spent my time volunteering at Cooper Magnet Elementary School's, Engineering Camp. This is a camp for Cooper students to get involved with various engineering problems, and helps them develop the skills necessary to solve them. I volunteered here for the most part, because it is the school that I attended when I was young. The bigger reason for me to volunteer is because the world needs more engineers and problem solvers. This engineering camp helps to open student's eyes to many fields of study they may have never heard of. When I volunteer at this camp, I feel as though I am shaping the lives of future engineers of the world which is an exciting opportunity!"
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members John Frantz, Linda McKee and Robert Dick share their love for reading