Four years after Dr. Melissa Quick started a Service-Learning program pairing high school students with local seniors, it has awarded more than $10,000 in scholarships to participating students.

Two years after she brought it to The Dalton Academy (TDA), at least three more TDA seniors will receive scholarships this year. Along the way, students and seniors have been changing each other’s lives.

In collaboration with the RAHYE Foundation, the program bridges the gap between high school students and Dalton’s aging community while providing meaningful opportunities for students to develop leadership, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Each week, students visit their assigned “buddies” at Dalton Square, an assisted living facility, to play games, make crafts, share stories, and enjoy time together. In the classroom, students work as a team to plan activities for the residents.

The relationships built through this partnership benefit everyone involved, connecting classroom instruction to real-world community service.

“This partnership not only enriches students’ learning experiences by connecting classroom instruction to real-world service, but also creates scholarship opportunities for participating students, recognizing their commitment to making a positive impact in the community,” said TDA Principal Jessica Ashlock.

“Starting this program has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” said Dr. Melissa Quick, Service-Learning instructor at TDA. “I’m grateful to the RAHYE Foundation and the Yim family for helping us make a lasting impact on our students and the seniors we serve.”

The program is made possible by the generous support of the Respect and Honor Your Elders (RAHYE) Foundation, established by Alice Yim and her late husband, Chang Bin Yim, in 2000 to honor and support long-term care residents as well as the compassionate nursing home staff who care for them.

In addition to funding the class’s ongoing activities, the program will award scholarships to at least three TDA seniors this year. This brings the total awarded to participating students since the program began four years ago to more than $10,000.

Dalton Public Schools and The Dalton Academy extend their sincere thanks to the RAHYE Foundation and the Yim family for their continued support of students and seniors in the Dalton community.