SOUTHWICK – An eighth grade student at Southwick Regional High School was selected to be an ambassador for Project 351. Jaydin Brown is one of more than 360 eighth graders across the 351 communities in Massachusetts that was hand-chosen by her teachers.
Project 351 is a non-profit and youth-driven service organization that was launched by former Governor Deval Patrick in 2011 and now continued by current Governor, Charlie Baker.
Southwick Regional High School had their own selection process as the staff sent their nominations to the seventh and eighth grade guidance counselor, Lindsay Smithies. Then Smithies delivered the nominations to the administration to look over and decide.
Smithies’ was very pleased that Brown was going to represent the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District for Project 351.
“Jaydin’s (Brown) the type of student you want to have in class,” said Smithies. The guidance counselor also labeled Brown as a “silent leader.”
The official launch day for Project 351 took place on Jan. 14 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. As it brings all of the new ambassadors together, the launch day also allows the students to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and work together for the day doing team-building activities and focusing on leadership. Brown and the other ambassadors will also meet Gov. Baker.
Jaydin Brown, an eighth grader at Southwick Regional High School, was selected to be an ambassador for Project 351. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Brown is already familiar with launch day and being an ambassador as her sister represented Duggan Middle School in Springfield, three years ago.
“After the launch, her journey (Brown’s) will really begin with Project 351,” said Smithies.
Brown will be working with her mentor for the program, Smithies, and work on community service projects in the local area including a food pantry drive and an event for 9/11.
This marks the first year that the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District has participated in Project 351. This is Smithies first year at Southwick Regional High School. Previously she worked at West Springfield Middle School where they were involved with Project 351.
Smithies’ has seen the first-hand impact that Project 351 can have on the community and the school that is partnering with it and believes the same could happen at Southwick Regional High School.
“I think it will be fun to bring in a new service project,” said Smithies. “It could be a launch point for us.”
Brown believes that any of her classmates can go out in the community and help make a difference.
“Everybody can do something,” said Brown. “I hope somebody will do something, just to do something for the community.”
Project 351 is only for eighth graders, but Brown’s time as an ambassador will last through the end of the fall in 2017.
