Jeremy Sutton is currently serving in his third year of National Service.  He served as a VISTA for one year and is currently serving his second year as an AmeriCorps Member.  Jeremy has come a long way in mastering many of the techniques that are needed in promoting a positive school atmosphere.  Jeremy shows that he can rise to the occasion with a consistent level of energy, enthusiasm, and a sense of humor when he is faced with any task.  Jeremy is open to new ideas and approaches.  Jeremy consistently reflects upon himself and his service as a member of his profession and community.  Jeremy is cognizant of his strengths and limitations and is open to the comments and suggestions of the students he assists, co-workers, and supervisors.  Jeremy assists in facilitating various school events.  Jeremy helped organize the creation of 1,000 decorated Christmas bags that St Nick’s used to distribute gifts to needy children in the community.  Jeremy organized a fundraiser at the local Pizza Hut where the teachers worked as servers, and all the proceeds benefited the Adopt an Angel Program.   Jeremy organized a food drive in which Wood Elementary staff and students provided Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets to needy families within their school.  Jeremy helped execute the Play Works station and created a Mad Scientist program that he facilitates during the After School Program, benefiting over 120 students.    As a VISTA, Jeremy was the founder of the Snack in a Pack program for the district, which currently provides 103 children with weekend meals.  Now as an AmeriCorps Member, Jeremy assists in the weekly delivery of the food packs at Wood Elementary.  Jeremy was a leader of 253 students during the summer after school club sessions in 2010.  During that time, he was a leader on three off-site service-learning field trips.  One service learning field trip included students participating in the Mark Twain National Forest cleanup.  On another service learning field trip, students visited the local nursing home where they took pictures and created a scrapbook for current residents, new residents, staff, and visitors to enjoy.  Upon completion, the scrapbooks were delivered to seniors along with container gardens of peppers and tomato plants that students had planted.  Jeremy also participated in MLK Service Day at two of the eleven locations where 206 community members participated in celebrating the ideals of Dr. King.  Jeremy’s impact on the community has been responsive, compassionate, flexible, and resourceful.  He is an example of excellence as an AmeriCorps Member.