Centerville High School seniors Barrett LeMaster and Paige Rose are the recipients of the annual Washington Township Community Service awards. The students were honored with a proclamation by Washington Township elected officials at Monday evening’s Board of Trustees meeting. The award includes a $1,000 scholarship for each student.
The scholarships are funded by the four Washington Township elected officials, the Centerville High School National Honor Society, Washington Township, and Judy Blair, in memory of her husband, Terry Blair, a former Washington Township trustee and a member of the Ohio General Assembly.
Barrett LeMaster has been an avid participant in Centerville High School’s Octagon Club all four years of high school serving as vice president this year, Student Council, National Honor Society showing both academic excellence and community service, and BOLD (Building Our Lives Drug and Alcohol Free). During his senior year, Barrett has been a member of the Care Team, Lunch Buddies and Study Buddies. He has completed over 150 hours of service and tutoring, volunteering for numerous activities in the community. “What inspired me to start volunteering was my older brother, Cooper,” said Barrett. “Growing up, I looked up to him—like most little brothers do. We volunteered together all the way through his high school graduation in 2023. His example showed me the impact that giving back can have—not just on others, but on yourself as well. Since then, it’s been important to me to carry that forward and inspire others to get involved too.”
In addition to the multiple high school service clubs he participates in, Barrett has shown remarkable personal dedication to supporting the diabetic community. Barrett's advocacy for Diabetes Dayton led to the charity being selected as a beneficiary of the Spirit Chain fundraising competition, resulting in significant contributions. During his junior year, the Spirit Chain raised $86,000, part of which benefited Diabetes Dayton, and in his senior year, the competition raised a record-breaking $131,000, further supporting the charity. Barrett mentions a quote that has inspired him throughout his volunteering journey is from Martin Luther King Jr., who said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” He shared that this question has stayed with him and continues to shape the way he lives and gives back. Barrett remarked, “It reminds me that the way we serve others defines not only the impact we make, but also who we are.”
Paige Rose has demonstrated exceptional commitment to community service through her involvement in various clubs and organizations such as Key Club, Octagon Club, and Operation Smile, all of which are community-oriented groups. Paige engaged in numerous activities such as writing thank you cards to veterans, making blankets for Dayton Area Refugees, decorating pumpkins for hospitalized children, and creating decorations for elderly residents at St. Leonard’s, making cards and sock puppets for children in the hospital who suffer from cleft lip. In addition to her club activities, Paige played a significant role in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society campaign, where she and her friends raised over $80,000 and completed over 65 community service hours, earning the Students of the Year title. Her efforts included organizing events, takeovers, and fundraisers to support the cause. “Through my volunteering, I have learned that I am more compassionate and empathetic than I thought,” said Paige. “I have learned that I am a good listener and that I can really make a difference in what I do. Volunteering has taught me to always look for ways to support and help others and to appreciate my community around me.”
Paige's dedication extended beyond her school clubs with donating blood, tutoring Hispanic children in English through the El Puente program, and participated in her school's Hope Squad to break the stigma around teen suicide. As co-president of the National Honor Society and Spanish Club, Paige led various community activities and partnered with Nicaragua’s Pulsera Project to sell handmade bracelets for a good cause. Her leadership and commitment were further demonstrated through her role as Treasurer of the Chem Buddies program, where she inspired young students with chemistry experiments, and as a member of Elk Connectors, guiding freshmen through their first years of high school. Paige's remarkable contributions have positively impacted the lives of many individuals in the Centerville community. Pagie remarks, “Growing up in Centerville, I have been constantly surrounded by a vibrant, supportive community. Centerville inspired me to want to give back to my community and be a part of something bigger.”
Washington Township Trustees established the Community Service Award to recognize student volunteers and, in the process, draw attention to the importance of public service. Advisors for Centerville High School’s four service organizations – Key Club, Octagon Club, Interact Club and National Honor Society – select two students who, through sustained effort, best exemplify service to the local, national, or international community. “In every great community, there are individuals whose commitment and service will be felt for years to come. We proudly recognize these students for embodying the very spirit of service that makes our community thrive,” says Trustee President Scott Paulson.