Junior Volunteer Program Encourages Community Involvement

On June 4, North Oaks officials oriented 27 teens selected to take part in the health system's Junior Volunteer summer program.

“Our summer program offers teens, ages 14 to 17, a unique opportunity for community service where they work as a team, learn new skills and can get ideas for their future career path,” explains North Oaks Volunteer Services Manager Malissa Gonzalez. The program runs from June 10 to July 26.

This year’s Junior Volunteers represent 11 Louisiana high schools found in East Baton Rouge, Livingston, Natchitoches, Orleans, Tangipahoa and St. Tammany parishes and a high school in Martinsville, Virginia. They include (from left, first row) Joan Joshua and Emily Brouillette, Hammond High Magnet School; Mia Zheng and Gresly Flores, Ponchatoula High School; (from left, second row) Emily Mwatibo, Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts; Carly Bourgeois, Ponchatoula High School; Emma Sumerall, homeschooled; Abby Branson, Carlisle School; Reign Dickerson, Hammond High Magnet School; (from left, third row) Breanna Fisher, Mandeville High School; Elyana Soley and Regina Adu, Hammond High Magnet School; Quentavia Smith, Ann Gambel and Cassidy Schwartz, Ponchatoula High School; (from left, fourth row) Levi Johnson, Hammond High Magnet School; Autumn Lloyd, Denham Springs High School; Gabi Williams, Episcopal School of Baton Rouge; Macie Summers, Hammond High Magnet School; Kaiden Dennis, Saint Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School; Jacie Briggs, Jewel M. Sumner High School; and Er’Marie Robertson, Ponchatoula High School. Not pictured are Amelia McKinney, Hammond High Magnet School; Raahil Rab and Aadil Rab, Jesuit High School; Peyton Lashua, Walker High School; and Leah Sanchez, Fontainebleau High School.

For more information on volunteer opportunities for teens, students and adults, call North Oaks Volunteer Services at 985-230-6811.