This is incredible! Congratulations to all winners of VolunteerSquare’s 8th Annual High School Essay Contest, and especially to second place awardee Harper Treschuck, who volunteers in Operation Hope’s community garden. Harper is a junior at Fairfield Ludlowe High School. She was one of 75 students in 35 high schools across Connecticut this year who submitted essays. The essays submitted truly represented how volunteering impacts the lives of teenagers in Connecticut. Harper, we love that volunteering has made an impact on you; your volunteering has definitely made an impact on us! Thank you!

From Harper, “What started as a project to nourish families in need also nurtured my sense of purpose. While the seeds I sowed did not solve the problem of food insecurity, I joined in solidarity with others to grow an impact that was bigger than myself.” Read Harper’s full essay here. And to see a full list of the awardees and to learn more about the contest, click here.