Amsterdam High School - Operation Smile Student Association 2006-07

Advisors: Maura Dargush and Annette Kinne
 

AHS Senior Michela Catena

Michela Catena, a senior at Amsterdam High School and member of the National Honor Society, attended an Operation Smile Mission to Phnom Penh, Cambodia on March 12-25,2007.

Michela, 2006-2007 president of AHS Operation Smile Student Association, a newly formed organization at Amsterdam High School spent four days in Utah at an Operation Smile Youth Leadership Conference and attended an Operation Smile Training Session this past year in Virginia all in preparation for Operation Smile Medical Mission to Cambodia.

Michela embarked on a trip of a lifetime. She had the opportunity to personally help and support patients and family members cope while their loved ones received the necessary surgery to repair facial deformities.

Operation Smile, a worldwide organization for helping repair childhood facial deformities has treated thousands of children and young adults since its beginning in 1982, when it became a charitable organization. Operation Smile's Standard International Medical Mission is comprised of a team of credentialed medical professionals from around the world who travel to Operation Smile partner countries to treat children during a two-week period. On a typical International Mission, 300-500 children receive full medical evaluations and 100-150 children are surgically treated.

As a result of everyone's support, Operation Smile conducts over 25 International Medical Missions per year in more than 25 countries.

The Amsterdam High School Operation Smile Student Association extends our congratulations to Michela for her commitment to this organization and for leading the way for future students desiring this experience.

This past summer, three of our Operation Smile students attended a Youth Leadership Conference that was held in Limerick, Ireland from July 30 to August 4. Liz Druziak, Heather Graff and Gino Catena joined others from around the world for this exciting and enlightening conference. This was their first serious step and commitment for a future mission. Next, they will have to attend a training session in Virginia in order to participate on a medical mission.
Congratulations to Liz, Heather and Gino for a successful trip and for their commitment to help others in need.

This year our AHS Operation Smile Student Association raised enough money for several surgeries for children in need. Our students volunteered barrel drives at Wal-Mart, helped the Irish American Club with St. Patrick's Day dinners where they donated to our organization, wrapped Christmas gifts for Big Brother- Big Sister organization and chaperoned their Christmas party as well just to name a few.

We are looking forward to another successful year where our students will fundraise for more surgeries and hopefully be in involved hi our community service as well.

If anyone in the community would like to help AHS Operation Smile Student Association meet its goal for the 2007-08 school year with a donation, please e-mail akinne@gasd.org or send donations to:

Anna Collie or Annette Kinne
2007-2008 AHS Operation Smile Advisors
Amsterdam High School
Saratoga Avenue Amsterdam, New York 12010
 

The cost of one surgery and a lifetime of happiness is $250.00.