Kristen with her parents, John and Bonnie Almquist of Sarver

Kirsten is getting ready to graduate from Freeport High School and she has already built a career of service to her community. In fact, her schedule is so filled with service projects and activities; one wonders if there are 48 hours in a day! “When you give back, you receive much more,” she said.

And, her education has not suffered in the midst of all her commitments. With a cumulative GPA of 4.7/4.0 in gifted curriculum, most Ivy League colleges would do anything to have her as a student. But, it is not going to happen – she has narrowed her list of colleges to a few smaller ones. She has been on the National Distinguished Honor Roll for three years, Distinguished Honor Roll for three years, Who’s Who of American High School Students for three years, and received the National Honors Society Certificate of Merit two years in a row. After her initial college education she is leaning towards an advanced degree in Optometry.

Kirsten is prepared for medical career. She was selected to attend the five week course at Pennsylvania Governor’s School for Health Care at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC. Attending in the summer of 2006, she had a 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday schedule with a lighter schedule on Saturday and Sundays. This invaluable training prepares Junior high school students for a health career.

Kristen with her parents, sister and pet dog.

Kirsten has had a lot of other exposure to the health field. Two previous summers she shadowed an Optometrist one year and a Physical Therapist the other year. She also has been a volunteer at Alle-Kiski HOPE Center, a Special Olympics coach assistant, taught Health Sciences for Pre-School Kids Day Out program, and has been on a Children Hospital Committee for four years.

A major service project that Kirsten conceived of and developed was a Health Directory [for Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler and Westmoreland Counties] for Alle-Kiski HOPE Center and Allegheny Valley Habitat for Humanity. She researched over 300 contacts, verified all pertinent information and created a data base that formed a published resource directory. She also gave a copy to a school nurse who was appreciative of having such an up to date health resource directory.

Her community service has taken her to many different organizations. She is Youth United President of the Allegheny Valley Habitat for Humanity where she was Coordinator of the first Annual Habitat for Humanity cardboard box sleep-in to raise funds. She also, with her Mom, Bonnie, was a construction volunteer and was selected to appear in a Youth United video about Habitat.

Congratulations Letter

Kirsten has been involved as an assistant in Special Olympics every year since 2004. She assists in weekly basketball and track and field practices at the local YMCA. She also volunteered at the Alle-Kiski HOPE Center helping with fund raising and coordinating collecting monthly donations of personal hygiene items from community groups. Other organizations she is volunteers at are the Freeport Library and Inter-Hospitality Network Homeless Program.

Church plays a big part in Kirsten’s life. She has been a Lay Reader for the past four years at Center United Methodist Church. Kirsten also is the choreographer and instructor of sacred dance performing group for the past four years. These are pre-school through eighth graders.

Her record in activities is very impressive. She has served in the high school Key Club for four years and held the President and Vice President position. As a Key Club member she has volunteered for numerous projects ranging from Park ‘N Ride cleanup, tutoring, Iraq care packages to babysitting. She also was elected Class Secretary for four years and has served on the Student Council. There are a number of other school committees Kirsten has served on.

Sports play a big role in Kirsten’s life. Playing Varsity Basketball for the past four years, she has been Captain in her Junior and Senior years, lettered two years, went WPIAL playoffs one year and state playoffs one year. She has almost the same record for Varsity Soccer where she was voted Best Leader in 2006. She also has four years as Marching Band Majorette.

The number of honors Kirsten has received is many and significant in her life. But, her greatest reward is the “self satisfaction I receive,” she said. Kirsten certainly is a role model to others, teens and adults, of what one person can do in life to make a difference. She said it herself, “I strongly felt that I needed to help . . .I wanted to find a way to have my own personal imprint . . .”.