David Broyles | The News

Mount Airy High School student Sydney Anne Peavy has been named to the March of Dimes North Carolina Youth Council. A total of 46 students were appointed to this year’s council representing various counties throughout North Carolina.

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Mount Airy High School junior Sydney Anne Peavy has been named to the March of Dimes North Carolina Youth Council for the 2012-2013 school year.

The appointment is an important milestone for the 16-year old, who also recently completed the Hugh O’Brien Leadership Seminar at Salem College. The seminar featured community and school leaders who mentor the students on becoming leaders themselves.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Peavy. “It was interesting how many different types of leadership there are and see what style best fits you.”

According to March of Dimes spokeswoman Lisa Hall, the N.C. Youth Council is comprised of youth selected for their commitment to bringing the March of Dimes mission to students and faculty in their local schools. She also indicated that the council will assist the March of Dimes in the design and implementation of programs targeted to youth including the March of Babies and November as Prematurity Awareness Month.

March of Dimes is a nonprofit organization for pregnancy and infant health that works to improve the health of babies nationwide by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Peavy said the council members have been discussing plans over conference calls.

“I plan to do many of the parts of the national program on a smaller scale,” explained Peavy. “Perhaps a fundraiser as well. It is all in the planning stages now.”

Mount Airy High School Guidance Counselor Amee Winters said she nominated Peavy for the position because it so reflected the direction she was progressing as a leader.

“She’s becoming more involved and more confident at becoming a leader,” said Winters. “She really wants to give back to the community. There is definitely a need for this.”

Peavy says wanting to give back to her community is something she learned from her parents, Ken and Robin Peavy, as well as Margaret and Al Peavy, her grandparents. She credited them with helping her on many projects and for instilling in her early on the desire to help others.

“This is a big part of my family,” said Peavy. “I owe a lot to my parents and grandparents who encouraged me and supported me to give back. I’ve had a lot of fun. It’s great to interact with youth and adults in the area. It was a neat experience to learn the skills to talk with adults.”

Peavy said she has served as an assistant swim instructor at Reeves Community Center for the past two summers and also benefited with her Gold project with the Girl Scouts. Winters said she also has maintained a grade-point average of 4.0 through out these projects.

“I think Sydney is to be commended for this. She has achieved a wonderful balance there,” said Winters. “Over the past year I have seen her become more confident in herself. She has blossomed over the past years and she has stayed humble. She does not want it to be all about her.”

Peavy’s reaction to being named to the council was modest.

“I was surprised,” recalled Peavy. “Even though we (the council members) have done just a few conferences over the phone I am looking forward together to do the benefit walks and projects. I’m becoming more confident about looking for ways to be involved, seeing a need and fixing it. They (others) are not going to follow you if you’re not confident.”

Interested persons may obtain more information about the March of Dimes at marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.

Reach David Broyles at dbroyles@heartlandpublications.com or 719-1952.