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Published on: 4/9/2008
Last Visited: 4/9/2008
Schantz named Youth of Year
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Andrew Schantz, the 2008 Saline Youth of the Year, finds inspiration from the chaos, chatter and boisterous banter of a good brainstorming session.No brooding for this boy.
Schantz is a young man full of both innovative ideas and ambitious action, the rare combination that often propels men to the top of the game.Quickly.
Since first being nominated as Youth of the Year as a middle school student, Schantz has continued to amaze his peers, impress his mentors and leave his mark on his school, as well as the entire community.
"He can be described as a dynamic, gregarious, fun-loving, ambitious, dedicated, smart, engaging, sleep-deprived and practically-perfect young man," wrote Saline Parks and Recreation Director Carla Scruggs, who nominated Schantz this year on behalf of her department.
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"Andrew is a great communicator, he keeps everyone informed, sends messages of encouragement and congratulations.You should see him run a Saline Youth Council meeting!"
Schantz, a junior at Saline High School, has been the chairman of the Saline Youth Council for two years, and has initiated "pSYChed," mentorship program between high school and middle school students.He was instrumental in the successful Dress for Less Sale in which donated Homecoming and prom dresses were sold to benefit charity.
In addition, he is spearheading an effort to build a teen center in Saline and has planned a teen job fair at the Saline Recreation Center this month.
He also has held leadership positions in the Saline chapter of Family, Career, Community Leaders of America and currently sits on the organization's State Executive Council.At this year's national leadership conference, he'll run for president of FCCLA, overseeing a membership of more than 250,000 youth.
If elected, he would hand over the reins of some of his local commitments.
"That won't be easy," he said."But it would be a huge honor to be in a position where I could inspire others to become leaders in their own communities."
Schantz believes that it's never too early for students to learn they can make a difference in their own world.Four years ago, he started a two-week-long summer day camp for kids in second through eighth grades, with his teammates from Destination Imagination.He taught campers the creative problem solving strategies he used during Destination Imagination competitions.
"Saline has given him many opportunities, and he wants to give the same or better opportunities to younger children," wrote Shantz's peer and council colleague, Dhanashree Patel, in her nominating letter.
Clearly, that's a priority for Schantz.He is a musician with the Saline Fiddlers, and a member of National Honor Society, Link Crew and Michigan Teenage Republicans.
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