Edison students take on leadership projects

Editor's note: Many students at Edison High School are enrolled in the district's Teen Leadership Corps class, which empowers teenagers to achieve their leadership potential through a character- and service-based curriculum. This school year, several students have completed projects benefiting the community inside and outside of their school. Before the school year officially ends, senior Ilah Reynolds, who's in the class, recapped several projects happening throughout 2026. Project No. 1 — Toys for Parkview By Navea Yamanouchi Edison High School Teen Leadership Corps student and senior Navea Yamanouchi hosted a toy drive to give back to communities outside of our own. This drive is connected deeply to her as she underwent multiple surgeries through Parkview Regional Medical Center. Parkview is home to 14 hospitals and more than 45 clinical specialists. In order to thank everyone who helped her through the healing process and connect with those who might be in similar positions, we hosted a toy drive in February at the girls basketball game senior night. We brought together families, students and two communities. Together we were able to showcase how our community not just shows up for one another but also has a willingness to help organizations that their students are connected to. We would like to thank everyone who donated toys because five bins were collected and donated to children and families undergoing long-term hospitalization at Parkview. Project No. 2 — Easter Bunny Breakfast by Weston Gfell On March 21, Weston Gfell, an Edison Teen Leadership student hosted a community Easter breakfast. This event: • Brought together families and volunteers for a morning of food, fun and philanthropy • Occurred due to the cooperation of Edison High School Teen Leadership Corps, The Piggyback Foundation and a strong community The primary goal of this event was to bring an understanding of the importance of The Piggyback Foundation and support families facing terminal illnesses. The secondary goal was to raise funds for The Piggyback Foundation, which will use the proceeds to give back to multiple families. Through the donations and attendance, this event showed strong community support. The fundraiser had an impressive turnout of about 170 attendants. Guests of all ages enjoyed a festive Easter-themed atmosphere, a special showing of the Easter bunny, which provided opportunities for photos and personal interaction. For the younger kids, a coloring station was provided, which added to the welcoming environment. A major highlight was the pancake topping station. This is where attendants could personalize their pancakes with toppings ranging from whipped cream to sprinkles. Edison Teen Leadership Corp students worked the whole morning to ensure the event went smoothly. In total, $1,600 was raised with: • $1,100 coming from the breakfast itself • $500 coming from a generous donor Both organizers and the community viewed this event as a major success that demonstrated the importance of community in fighting local illnesses. Project No. 3 — March Madness by Jacoby Valimont Edison High School Teen Leadership Corps member Jacoby Valimont ran his Teen Leadership Corps project, March Madness, through the entirety of March. March Madness is a donation drive set in the month of March in which each homeroom is pitted against each other in a bracket-style tournament. Each week would have a specific item that would be donated, and whichever homeroom had the most would move on to the next round. Several different items were selected to have the most impact when donated to the Salvation Army: • The first week was paper products. • The second was boxed pasta. • The third week was maple syrup. • The fourth was cereal boxes. More than 1,500 ounces of maple syrup was gathered and donated along with 1,500 ounces of cereal, more than 100 boxes of pasta and nearly 100 rolls of paper products. "After seeing Melissa Stallkamp's reaction to all the items donated, I realized how much of a difference this really makes," Valimont said. Project No. 4 — Helping out Habitat for Humanity by Peyton Taylor In April, the Edison High School Teen Leadership Corps class took their leadership skills beyond the classroom and into the community by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. Led by senior and second-year TLC student, Peyton Taylor, students spent the day working at a construction site at 1207 E. Parish St. in Sandusky, helping build a home for a local family in need. Throughout the day, students worked side by side with experienced volunteers and the project manager, learning hands-on construction skills while making a meaningful impact. They hammered nails, helped build walls and assisted in raising them into place. The experience provided not only practical knowledge but also a deeper understanding of the effort and teamwork required to build a home. At the start of the day, students were introduced to Ryan Hodges, who shared the history and mission of Habitat for Humanity. Later they had the opportunity to meet the future homeowner, which made the experience even more personal and rewarding. Students learned that habitat homes are not simply given away. Families are required to complete 400 to 500 hours of volunteer work and purchase the home at a reduced cost, emphasizing the organization's focus on partnership and responsibility. "It was really eye-opening to see how much work goes into building a home and how it directly helps a family," Taylor said. "This experience meant a lot to me, especially since I want to become a civil engineer someday." During a break, former Edison teacher Cyndi Carrier-Vajda, now a Habitat volunteer, stopped by to bring donuts for the group, adding a thoughtful touch to the day. Students later enjoyed lunch together, giving them time to reflect on their work and bond as a team. By the end of the day, many students shared how rewarding the experience had been. They enjoyed working with their hands, learning from skilled volunteers, and contributing to something bigger than themselves. The project not only supported a local family but also strengthened students' leadership, teamwork and sense of service.