2005/04/20 Council Agenda Packet

Page 4 Throughout his early years, Tony received strong nurturing and encouragement from his mother and grandparents. That love and commitment helped produce a young man who understands the important of helping others. Tony has received several honors for his football accomplishments including the Everett Herald's All-Area Defensive Player of the Year, Washington's All-State 1st Team Offensive and other defensive player honors. In addition, he has also accomplished a great deal off the field. For the past several years, Tony has volunteered his time and talents as a mentor for a young boy who has struggled with schoolwork. He has also volunteered as a team leader for Archbishop Murphy's "Going the Extra Mile" program. The program raised money to help buy books and supplies for the Fred Hutch School, an accredited program that serves patients at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. As you can imagine, Tony is highly regarded at Archbishop Murphy by classmates and teachers. Tony's class schedule includes additional courses in math, science and AP statistics. Tony was nominated for this award by Tim Blair, a counselor at Archbishop Murphy High School. Tony's performance and dedication makes him a natural selection for this award. Michael Salzer: This 14-year-old Voyager Middle School student carries a 3.9 grade point average and takes honors classes and a high school algebra class. He plays on the school football team and wrestles varsity. He is a Life Scout in the Boy Scouts of America and serves as a Den Chief for Cub Scout Pack 13. He volunteers at summer day camps and at the Fire Mountain Boy Scout Camp. For the past seven years, he has assisted at the Tree of Giving, sorting gifts at the Everett Mall and delivering them to retirement homes. He also volunteers at church putting together Power Point presentations and running the sound system. In addition, he helps assemble food baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas. He helps care for his invalid grandfather, who is a double amputee and severe diabetic. Michael has a big heart and is often the first to help when someone is in need, which is why the committee selected Michael for this award. Michael was nominated for this award by Michael Middleton, Cub Master for Pack 13. Tony Wood: This 19-year-old senior at Everett High School has a wonderful sense of humor and has an easy going way about himself. For the past three years, Tony has volunteered at Providence Hospital delivering newspapers four mornings a week to patient rooms. He arrives at the volunteer office at about 8 a.m. and packs the newspapers on a cart and navigates two sets of elevators and eight patient floors. He has to be careful not to deliver to rooms with "Do not disturb" and "Contact precaution" signs. For any student, this service to patients at Providence is commendable, but even more so for Tony given he is autistic. He was born with delays in communications and social skills. He is mostly non-verbal and communicates with pictures, gestures and simple phrases. Learning new things and changes in his routine can be difficult. Over the past three years, Tony has not only learned to complete the very complex newspaper delivery task, but has thrived and is more independent than most thought he could be.