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Photo From: Joe Reynolds - Album: General

Description: Worcester County honors its Maryland’s Most Beautiful People of 2004 While the Maryland State volunteer theme for this year’s Maryland’s Most Beautiful People (MMBP) Award is “The Power of One,” those chosen as Worcester County’s MMBP more closely resemble that of a small army, a high school army that is, whose aim is to advance into all sectors of the community to help wherever they are needed. During a dinner ceremony held at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club to honor volunteers from various areas of Worcester County, the student-driven, volunteer organization from Stephen Decatur High School, Connections, was named Worcester County’s MMBP of 2004. Though people may often envision only individuals rather than organizations when they think of volunteerism, students in Connections have pooled their time and resources into a group to help as many of their neighbors as possible. This group, which was originally formed by past students Joe Chen and Caroline Andes, is now 50 plus students strong. These dedicated youth work after school, on weekends, and throughout the summer to help care for the environment, tutor students in need and aid the sick, the elderly, and the poverty-stricken. This energetic band of youth have also established strong community ties by working closely with organizations such as Diakonia, Believe in Tomorrow, Atlantic General Hospital, Worcester County G.O.L.D., and the Leukemia Society. Along with the primary goals of Connections, which are to enhance the service experiences of youth and create patterns of lifelong civic involvement, members of the group also develop strong leadership skills and gain new ideas. One such new and successful idea was to institute the Surfing with Seniors program, aimed at helping the elderly to learn basic computer skills and how to navigate the World Wide Web. Connections will represent Worcester County at the state-wide Maryland’s Most Beautiful People Volunteer Awards Ceremony and Dinner in Annapolis on Wednesday, Nov. 10. In addition to Connections, those honored at the ceremony were Ocean Pines residents Linda Hess, Peggy Russo, Barbara Rightmire, Barbara Kissell, and Sally Briody; Ocean City residents Kathy Schardt, Jim McGaha, Margaret Sas, and Play It Safe Committee representatives; Berlin residents Jo Ann Unger, Bill Killinger, Richard and Betty Burbage, and Linda Busick; Snow Hill residents Gerald Wilson, Margaret Mason, Thomas Craige and Barbara Curtis; and Princess Anne resident Walter West, who volunteers his time in Pocomoke and other areas. Worcester County is extremely grateful for each of the countless volunteers who give of their time, talent, and resources to improve the lives of those around them. It is these individuals, whose good works often go unnoticed by the general public, who contribute to the outstanding quality of life in Worcester County. Photo - the state coordinator of the Maryland's Most Beautiful Awards Ceremonies, Floraine Applefeld (from left, front row), stands with Connection members Irini Zhapa and Danielle Jackson, and (from left, back row) Matt Powell, Sarah Scanlon, Ally McGarry and Worcester County Commission President John E. "Sonny" Bloxom. Uploaded: 9/22/2004 by Joe Reynolds