Hannah Dumey

Fifth in a series

Eighth-grader continues service
to school, church

Thirteen-year-old Hannah Dumey already has found new service projects to do for the 2002-2003 school year. And, she's on the lookout for more.

Dumey is now an 8th-grader at Crestview Middle School in west St. Louis County.

Last spring, she was one of four middle school students named a 2002 Young Achiever of the Year. A total of 12 awards are given to elementary, middle and high school students for high achievement.

(Nominations for 2003 Achievers awards are open. See below.)

She won with a long list of service projects at school, at her church and in the community. She also earned high goals of personal scholarship, music and sports.

"I get joy out of helping other people and I like to take charge of projects," she said.

(Young Saint Louis.com has been profiling the elementary and middle school Achiever winners. To read the original May, 2002, awards story, click here. Then, to read individual profiles, click here for June, 2002; click here for July, 2002; click here for August, 2000, and click here for September, 2002. Other profiles will be in November and December, 2002, and January, 2003.)

As soon as school started last month, Hannah got involved in helping to organize the school's "buzz book." That's the publication that gives students the new names, addresses and phone numbers for people at the school.

In addition, she said, "If anything else comes up at school or church, I'll get involved."

She's also considering running for the student council this year. Two years ago, she was vice president of her elementary school's student council.

This last summer, she was involved again in Vacation Bible School at her church, Ballwin Baptist Church.

"This year, I was a line leader working with five-year-olds. I helped with crafts and told stories. I would shepherded the kids during their sessions," she said. Hannah and one other older kid helped the three adult teachers take care of 30 youngsters.

In the past, she's been active in Operation Christmas Guild at both her school and church. That's a program where kids collect baby clothes, bottles and toys to be sent overseas for needy young people in other lands.

She also has taken part in several service projects for her Girl Scout troop. But, this year, she'll need to find a new troop because her old group lost its adult leader.

Hannah has been active in music at both her school and in church.

She started clarinet lessons last month so she can continue playing with the school band. However, she's going to limit her musical work at church to singing in the choir. Last year, she also played in hand bell groups.

Another church activity in which she excels is the Bible and Youth drill competitions. Those test kids' knowledge of the Bible, including a wide variety of biblical verses.

"I always go to the state level in those," she said.

In sports, she said, "I usually make the track team at school. I'm pretty fast, even when running against the boys on our street." In addition to running, she competes in the triple jump.

A 4.0 student, Hannah said her favorite subject in school is science. In the past, she's earned honors in the Greater St. Louis Science Fair. She's looking for "something that would be really fun" as a science project for this year.

She said her personal role model was French scientist, Madame Marie Curie. She, along with her husband, discovered x-rays.

Hannah said she has focused on Marie Curie because she combined a career with raising a family. That child care became especially difficult after her husband and research partner died.

Hannah's career goals have changed in the last year. Previously, she had wanted to be an orthodontist. However, she said, "After I got my braces on, that career didn't seem to be as much fun."

Now, she said she'd like to be a movie director. "I like to make movies with my friends with our video camera. I'm usually the director."

Hannah is the youngest of five children of David and Debbie Dumey. She said her interest in helping with service projects in school, church and community runs in the family.

 

2003 Achiever nominations now being accepted

The nomination period for the 2003 Gateway Young Achievers Program is now open. The deadline for nominations is Nov. 30, 2002.

Principals, teachers and youth leaders in the St. Louis-area can nominate young people in elementary, middle and high schools. Be sure to tell your teachers or leaders of your youth organizations about this neat award program.

In 2002, 550 students in the Gateway area were honored as Achievers. That included 50 who received medallions and $50 gift certificates. Also, 12 kids--four each from elementary, middle and high schools--received $1,000 U.S. Savings Bonds and nomination for national honors.

To get information, teachers or youth leaders can call (314) 961-5978 or 1-800-693-4384. To learn more about the program, log on to www.iln-gateway.org.