News: Good Shepherd Alliance Names Student Board Members

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(Sept. 13, 2012) - The Good Shepherd Alliance (GSA) has announced its student board members for the 2012-2013 school year.Will Avdellas of Tuscarora High School has accepted the role of chair. He will be supported by Taylor Nelson (Broad Run High School) as vice chair of the GSA Youth Advisory Group.


Both rising seniors also will serve as student board members of the GSA Board of Directors. Avdellas and Nelson provide the GSA with leadership, volunteerism in social services and the ability to network with other student organizations, youth groups and community leaders. These students display a passion to plan and initiate programs to get high school youth involved in serving the needs of our indigent and homeless population.

GSA collaborated with Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Superintendent Dr. Edgar B. Hatrick III, Director of Student Services Suzanne Jimenez and Supervisor of Guidance Services Marilyn Jackson to solicit resumes from each Loudoun County high school. GSA Vice Chair and Youth Director Bob Ohneiser, along with fellow GSA board members Jim Baratta, Linda Lefebvre, James Thrash and Bahman Batmangheidj, assisted in establishing the criteria and the selection process of the student board members.T

his is the fourth year that the GSA has invited members of the youth community to participate on its board of directors. The Youth Advisory Group works with the board to promote GSA homeless services and programs in Loudoun schools. Past Youth Advisory Group members have worked with clubs and student organizations at their schools to plan and execute awareness and fundraising projects.

Past projects include:
• Broad Run High School held a GSA Bake Sale at their sold-out, televised high school basketball game. After matching donations, the group raised $1,000 and social awareness for the GSA.
• A "Heart for the Homeless" Music Fest was held at Founders Hall Ashburn Fire House. Four bands were featured and 70 high school students attended the successful event.
• Youth group members were also responsible for the creation and sale of a poetry book with poems about “home” written by children, raising funds to go out and perform needed maintenance on a GSA shelter.
• A “Sleep-Out” in the Loudoun Valley High School gymnasium which raised $5,000 and awareness about homelessness.

To learn more about how your school or business can partner with the GSA Youth Advisory Group, contact Bob Ohneiser at ohneiser@verizon.net.