Madison Blaine, a fifth grade student at the Goshen Intermediate School, was selected to receive the second place award for Outstanding Leadership/Volunteerism/Citizenship in grades 2-8 by the Orange County Youth Bureau.

According to the Orange County Youth Bureau, “This award represents the contributions of the youth volunteer/leader who spends his/her discretionary time helping others and/or works on projects that add to the betterment of the community and demonstrates strong leadership skills.”

“Madison is well-spoken, intelligent, resourceful and goal oriented,” said Principal Mary Ann Knight. “She is a mature and self-confident person.”

Madison was nominated by her principal, Mary Ann Knight, for her role in the recycling and conservation activities in her school, which have spearheaded the recycling efforts of 620 students and 80 teachers and staff members. Madison was selected by her former teacher, Teegan Kennedy, to help the fourth grade students continue the recycling project that she helped initiate last year. Madison has mentored and taught her classmates about recycling and conservation practices. She also helped purchase recycling bins for each classroom and several office spaces by selling reusable shopping bags to members of the community.

Madison is a member of the Odyssey of the Mind team, where she has strengthened her problem solving, public speaking and presentation skills. She is also an active member of the Goshen Youth Ending Hunger Club, which meets once a month. She contributes her time and energy to packing food baskets and fundraising for those in need.

“It’s an honor to be nominated by my principal, but to actually win second place is outstanding,” said Madison. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

In addition to her school activities, Madison calls herself a “huge sports person” and is involved with softball, basketball, soccer, tennis and dance. In fact, she would like to play soccer professionally – in addition to practicing law with the goal of becoming a judge.

Madison will be honored at an awards luncheon and presentation, which will be held on Friday, June 6 at the Brookside Manor in Middletown.