2013 Recipient
Gianna Duncan of Millbury has made community service a central part of her life. As a “military kid” she has learned by example the importance of sacrifice and service. She knows first hand the impact deployment has on all of members of the family. While attending Marianapolis Preparatory School, Gianna participated in various school sponsored fund raising and service projects including: Relay for Life, Homeless Awareness Night and increasing awareness of poverty in America by cleaning and restoring a local day camp. The daughter of an Air Force reservist who was moved to active duty after 9/ll, Gianna considers her community service a thank you to the military which has given her so much. Gianna’s military related activities include: volunteering at Yellow Ribbon events, participating in Teen Leadership Summit Camps, implementing the Westover Air Reserve Family Fun Fair for military children and organizing a “Purple Up for Military Kids Day” to increase awareness and support for military youth. Gianna credits her parents with teaching her by example the importance of standing up for what you believe in and giving back. She is a role model for both teens and adults, expressing gratitude and service via her daily actions. We are so proud to award her a Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation Scholarship and wish her the best as she pursues her studies at the University of Connecticut in the fall.