January 8, 2010

Teen gets national recognition for volunteer tutoring efforts

by Tiffany Gibson, Las Vegas Sun, originally published on 11/19/09

After winning the Prudential Spirit Community Award twice, it’s safe to say Daniel Edmondson is not your average high school senior.

Last week, the 17-year-old Boulder City High School student was interviewed by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Communication and Outreach for a national video about his volunteer group called Teens Actively Contributing (TAC).
“The secretary of education decided to give credit for TAC and what it’s done,” Edmondson said. “They came out here with a video crew to capture what TAC is about.” Edmondson said he likes to think of TAC as a search engine for volunteer work. He said any teen can join the organization and participate in volunteer work. The group has more than 100 active members.

“We also offer kids who have volunteer ideas a source to do it,” Edmondson said. “They can get kids to sign up for their volunteer projects.” Edmondson said the filming was a little awkward at first. A crew followed him all day, beginning at school with a mock TAC meeting and ending at the Boulder City Hospital, where he volunteers on Mondays and Fridays.

He said his passion for volunteering began when he was 9 years old and teaching taekwondo to fellow students. A few years later, Edmondson said, he set up a tutoring program and now manages two programs, helping both elementary and middle school students. “My passion for volunteering comes from joy of sharing with others what I love and what I know,” Edmondson said. “I remember tutoring this kid that was failing and then he was passing. Then he was getting straight A’s. It’s like that satisfaction that you can make someone else’s life better.”

To read more, click here.

Filed under: Leadership,Peer-Tutoring

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