Ross Gallabrese MOST UNITED — Indian Creek High School was recognized Thursday as a winner in the Most United School Challenge, a competition organized by the United Way of Jefferson County. On hand for the presentation were, from left, Michele Starkey, intervention specialist; Cookie West, a United Way board member; Marci Snyder-Crawford, United Way executive director; students Alexis See, Lei'Azjah Moore and Meghan Paoloemilio; Amy Colantoni, public relations liaison for the Indian Creek Local School District; and Taylor Steeves, a United Way board member.

WINTERSVILLE — There are some lessons that can sometimes be taught better outside of classrooms.

Stepping up to help others is one of them.

Students at Indian Creek High School showed their commitment to the community while helping area organizations this spring.

“The United Way challenge showcased the incredible generosity and compassion of the Indian Creek community,” said Amy Colantoni, public relations liaison for the Indian Creek Local School District.

Colantoni said that Thursday, shortly after the school had been recognized by officials from the United Way of Jefferson County as the winner of the donations portion of the Most United School Challenge.

Four high schools across the county — Indian Creek, Catholic Central, Buckeye Local and Edison — competed in the challenge, which took place May 11-15. The weeklong initiative focused on service, generosity and student leadership. Edison was recognized Tuesday as the winner in the volunteerism portion.

“It’s a way to show kids that you can be young and still make change,” said Marci Snyder-Crawford, executive director of the United Way. “You don’t have to be an adult, you don’t have to be making a lot of money or be successful, but you can be young and make changes in your community.”

That’s why having a competition like the challenge is important.

“We want to show them what compassion is and how to actually live united,” she added.

Students and staff at the school came through, Colantoni explained, filling two Pack ‘n Plays with 802 donated items, raising $501 and volunteering at the Caring Place and Urban Mission Ministries.

“We heard about the challenge, and we decided we wanted our school to be involved,” said Lei’Azjah Moore, a junior at the school. “We thought it would be important to give back to the community and make a difference. This shows how our school can come together and make a difference.”

Alexis See, also a junior, agreed.

“It’s just nice to get together as a whole and show what we can do and that we care and our actually getting out there,” she said.

“We spent our time at the Urban Mission and the Caring Place,” added Meghan Paoloemilio, a junior. “We just took it out in the community and figured out how our time can help other people.”

In the end, Colantoni explained, the competition helped provide an important learning experience.

“This initiative was about more than donations,” she said. “It was about teaching students the importance of empathy, leadership and community responsibility. We are proud of the way our students stepped up to support local organizations and make a meaningful impact on the lives of others.”

“‘Together We Rise’ is not just something that we say at Indian Creek,” she continued. “It is something our students, staff, families and community truly live out each and every day through service, compassion and support for one another.”

Colantoni said the school helped the United Way in December, when it donated $2,000 to the Meals for Hope project. More than 100 volunteers participated in that effort at Franciscan University of Steubenville, preparing 38,000 meal kits that were distributed to area families in need.

Board members Cookie West and Taylor Steeves helped with Thursday’s presentation.