May 13, 2007 By The 4 min read

Thanks to people like Connellsville High School senior Alyssa Dye, things are a little better for U.S. soldiers in Iraq. “I had known Alyssa through casual contacts but became professionally acquainted with her when she became a member of a volunteer group that I sponsored. It’s known as the CAHS Patriots,’ said Linda Shearer, a teacher at Connellsville High School.

“This group formed at the time the U.S. went to war in Iraq, because they felt the need to support patriotism as well as those servicemen and women who were being deployed to some of the harshest places on earth. Alyssa freely gives of herself to our project, but she never falters in her commitments in the classroom, at work or in other extracurricular activities,’ added Shearer.

For all her volunteer work, Dye 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.

Dye said she found her volunteer work, particularly her time with CAHS Patriots project, to be very rewarding.

“The objective of this (CAHS Patriots) organization is to send care packages to servicemen and women who are currently serving overseas,’ said Dye. “This takes a lot of time and effort on our part. However, it is all worth it to receive thank you letters from the very people who are overseas defending me and my country.

“I have also had the pleasure of meeting some of the servicemen who have received these packages while serving in Iraq. The appreciation that these men had for my efforts and the efforts of my classmates far exceeded my expectations,’ she added. “It was at this time that I realized why I do volunteer my time to be involved in community service.’

And the CAHS Patriots is not the only project she’s involved with.

“Alyssa has been a member of the National Honor Society for two years,’ said Christine J. Grimm, math teacher and National Honor Society sponsor at Connellsville High School. “While being a member, she has participated in our Toys for Tots campaign, the canned food drive for local ministries, and the Red Cross blood drive. She volunteered as a ‘Big Sister’ for a local Young Woman’s Day. She is also an active member in her church, volunteering with Bible school, youth group and choir.’

The students will be honored at a breakfast at the 30 East Main restaurant in Uniontown on Thursday. 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, Joe Hardy, Cherokee Fur and Recycling, Jimmy Gismondi, John Gismondi and Associates, National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 520, Jim Gismondi, 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, the Chestnut Ridge Rotary Club and Lizzy Gismondi.

Dye, the daughter of Bill and Luanne Dye, is ranked 12th in her class and has a 3.85 grade-point average. She plans to major in math education at St. Vincent College.