Apr 27, 2009 4 min read

This is the fourth in a series of eight stories.Heather Kerestine wondered what it would be like if a person had the opportunity to make the community a little better, or what would happen if the community could be improved because someone took the time to make a difference. Kerestine, a senior at Brownsville Are High School, decided that she could be this person who would help improve the community. “I was going to take the time out of my life to make the world a better place to live in. That is why I got involved in my local community and completed community service,” said Kerestine, the daughter of Mark and Melody Kerestine

One of Kerestine’s volunteer projects was to organize a macaroni and cheese food drive for children.

“Being able to feed a person who I know is suffering from hunger warms my heart immensely,” she said. “Working with people who are in need of my help, not only leaves me with a sense of happiness, but also a sense of pride.”

Kerestine not only helps children in need, but she also assists homeless animals.

“I organized a donation for the Fayette Friends of Animals organization. I stopped by (the shelter) and delivered the news that the Brownsville Area High School student council and I were going to try our best to get the most donations we could,” said Kerestine. “My club and I decided on a certain amount and then mailed in the donation.”

Kerestine also helps people in need by volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul, a thrift store located in Uniontown. As a volunteer, she worked eight-hour shifts and set prices on the various items that were available for sale.

“Volunteers are everyday super heroes,” said Kerestine. “No, we don’t wear silly costumes that everyone thinks are really cool. No, we don’t have the capability of flying from one building to the next. No, we cannot see through thick walls. However, we help people. That is what heroes are known for, helping people.”

For her volunteer efforts, Kerestine has been selected to receive a Fayette County Community Service All-Star Award. She is among eight local students being honored for putting forth an extra effort to make a difference in their communities. Schools participating in the program are Albert Gallatin, Brownsville Area, Connellsville Area, Geibel, Laurel Highlands, Uniontown Area high schools, Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, and the Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology.

Each school selects its own awardee based on the student’s community service endeavors over the last three years. Students must have a minimum 3.25 grade-point average.

Kerestine has a 4.0 grade-point average, ranking fourth out of 121 students in her class. She plans to California University of Pennsylvania.

Under the program’s guidelines, a $500 check will be sent to the college where the students will be attending.

The students can also receive a matching grant from the Community Foundation of Fayette County, depending on certain requirements. The students will be honored at a breakfast at Pechin’s Firehouse restaurant in Dunbar Township on Monday, May 4.

Sponsors for the program include Argon ST, Dave and Linda Meredith, Jes Hutson, Community Foundation of Fayette County, Cherokee Fur, Inc., Gismondi and Associates, P. C., Dan Evans, John Evans, Jim and Libby Gismondi, Hartsek Catering, Joseph A. Hardy, Kisiel and Rudnik, PC, Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus Alumni Society, Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, College for Kids, Ronald and Patricia Sheba, George R. Smalley Co., Inc., Ben and Barbara Wright, Russell Blaho, Cindy Digga, Larry and Carol George, Jeanne Moore, Mark and Linda O’Keefe, Sepic Orthodontics, Debbie Seeger, Upper Room and Doug Wood.

The Herald-Standard is the media sponsor while Ford Business Machines is the breakfast and plaque sponsor and Slavik’s is the T-shirt sponsor.