May 10, 2007 By The 4 min read

To say that Rebecca Barnhart is a busy person has to be the understatement of the year. A senior at Brownsville High School, she has a 3.66 grade-point average and is a member of the school’s tennis team, choir, National Honor Society, French Honor Society.

In addition, she attends both St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church and the New Stanton Assembly of God Church.

But that’s only the tip of the iceburg.

She’s a tireless volunteer, donating much of her time to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, the Redstone Rangers and the Feed the Need groups.

“I wish each student emulated Rebecca’s work ethic, responsibility and perseverance,’ said Rachael Bruschi, AP English teacher at Brownsville High School. “She always gives that little big extra, which makes her stand out above others.’

“Becky freely undertakes leadership in any situation and can be relied upon to complete the tasks at hand,’ said Carl Garofalo Jr., director of the Redstone Living Historians. “Becky is outstanding in coordinating the details of schedules and works along with any and all personnel assigned to a project.’

For her volunteering efforts, Barnhart has been selected to receive a Fayette County Community Service All-Star Award. She is among 10 local students being honored for putting forth an extra effort to make a difference in their communities. The students come from Fayette County’s seven high schools as well as the West Virginia Career Institute, the Laurel Business Institute and Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.

The students were nominated on the basis of their grade-point average and community service.

The students will receive a $500 check to help them with their college costs. The students will be honored at a breakfast at 30 East Main restaurant on Thursday, May 17.

Members of the organizing committee for the event, Jes Hutson, John Evans, Bob Garrett, Leda Gismondi, Alyssa Trynock, Dave Meredith and Melanie Thomas, will select a captain, who will receive an extra $100.

Alyssa Trynock of Big Brothers/Big Sisters will be the master of ceremonies. Uniontown banker Ben Wright will be the guest speaker.

Sponsors for the program include the Herald-Standard, Jes Hutson, Dave and Linda Meredith, Shelly and Paul Songer, Community Foundation of Fayette County, National City Bank Foundation, Cherokee Fur and Recycling, Jimmy Gismondi, John Gismondi and Associates, National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 520, Russ Blaho, Harry Brownfield, Dan Evans, John Evans, Elouise Eberly, First National Bank, Hartsek Catering, Leda Gismondi, Bill Hutson, Kisiel and Rudnik, PC, Laurel Business Institute, Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus Alumni Society.

Ford Business Machines, Phil Michael, Debbie Seeger, Ron Sheba, Dicey Simon Basketball Officials, Slavik’s, George Smalley Co., Fayette Holdings Limited, Larry George, Bev Hurley, Joseph Nepa, Sepic Orthopedics, Joe Price, Alyssa Trynock, Upper Room, George Von Benko, Doug Wood and the Chestnut Ridge Rotary Club.

Barnhart said she inherited her love for community service, noting that her grandfather is a 70-year active volunteer firefighter and a St. Vincent De Paul volunteer.

She said her grandmother is active in the fire company auxiliary and also active as a St. Vincent De Paul volunteer. She noted that both are very active in their church, giving very freely of their time.

Barnhart said she began volunteering in the eighth grade at a local re-enactment and found it to be a very fulfilling way to spend her time.

“I have transferred my love of history to others,’ said Barnhart. “I have worked with families, individuals and school children and shown them what it is like to relive the eighteenth century.’

Barnhart said she also enjoyed working with the Feed the Need program through the Faith Assembly of God Church in Uniontown.

“That was indeed an experience for me. I was truly amazed at how many people in our area are truly in need of not just physical nourishment but also spiritual nourishment,’ added Barnhart. “Community service is something that I will do for a very long time, and the memories that I make while doing it will be cherished in my heart forever.’