Midland Trail High School is home to many members of the National Honor Society. Members are often seen helping in the community and leading their peers through school events, and are well known for their scholarship, leadership, service, and character. These students set an exemplary example for those who come after them.
Most members of the National Honor Society seek higher education after high school, but not everyone can afford the tuition costs. That’s precisely why, for the graduating classes of Midland Trail, one teacher decided to rise to the occasion to help students combat the price of college.
Amy Taylor is an English teacher at Midland Trail, as well as the National Honor Society Teacher Advisor for the school. Taylor decided a few years ago that she wanted to do something particularly special for her students. She wanted to give every single senior in National Honor Society at Midland Trail a scholarship.
“I started raising money for the seniors for National Honor Society in the beginning of the school year of 2019. However, of course, then school was shut down with COVID. So sadly, I wasn’t able to award any scholarships or do enough fundraising to do scholarships, but I made up for it the following year,” said Taylor.
When her senior students at Midland Trail received their scholarships shortly before they graduated in 2020, Taylor added in a scholarship of her own making for National Honor Society students with the help of fundraisers throughout the year.
“Every Easter, we do the Sarris chocolate fundraiser based out of Pittsburgh. It seems to do really well because it’s an out of the area fundraiser and everyone loves chocolate at Easter time,” said Amy. This is one of the many fundraisers she takes up every year for the National Honor Society students. “We collect change from all the classes during Homecoming week. We had a snack cart last year, which was a huge hit. We sold cookbooks at Christmas last year. Any dances or school events also bring in money to help our kids.”
Former members and officers of the National Honor Society at Midland Trail; pictured from left to right are: Cy Persinger, Faith Bailes, Makenzie Kessler, and Covey Critchley.
When asked what urged her to give out scholarships to NHS members, Taylor had this to say:
“When I started the application process with my own daughter who was a senior a few years ago, I realized how hard it is for the students in our area to attend school and for it to be affordable. I wanted to reward students for their academics and for making it through National Honor Society. If I can offset the cost of college a little bit, even if it’s to help pay for their books, or you know, maybe for their dorm room. They put in the work to help me raise the money, so I just wanted to give back to them.”
Through sponsorships and fundraising, Taylor has been able to help her students at Midland Trail pay for part of their college educations.
“I raised almost $8,000 last year; I gave $7,700 in scholarships. Last year was the first year that we raised enough where I divvied out and gave my officers, my president, vice president, secretary, historian and treasurer extra money. I gave them a little bit more because they had done more work. I gave them a double scholarship. But I gave every single National Honor Society senior who applied for the scholarship, a scholarship. So I gave $7,700 in scholarships.”
Amy Taylor’s dedication to her students shines through her actions. The money she’s raised to support the young adults in National Honor Society has gone above and beyond to help them better afford an education after high school, and the extra help to fight the costs of college will no doubt help the students in their future endeavors. Taylor says she hopes this year to raise enough to give every senior in the National Honor Society a scholarship of $500.
Although it wasn’t necessary for Taylor to fund scholarships for students of the National Honor Society, her rise to action in support of these young minds will continue to work its wonders for the students of Midland Trail’s National Honor Society.
Taylor also wanted to mention the sponsors, who also help her raise money for the kids.
“I can’t ask for donations, but the community is able to sponsor the National Honor Society, and we did receive a sponsorship check in the mail last year. So if any communities or businesses would like to sponsor the scholarship program, they can mail any monetary donation, which is appreciated, directly to Midland Trail High School, and we will make sure that it ends up in our kids hands for college.”
