MEINIG FAMILY CORNELL NATIONAL SCHOLARS
EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AWARD
Logan M. Skelley '10
Agriculture and Life Sciences
Authored: April 1, 2007
In high school I created a program called the “Canned Heat” Project to help families in our community pay their winter heating bills. I started this program because there had been several articles in our local paper describing how the “demand was great” in our area for assistance with winter fuel bills. The information I read described how the price of natural gas, crude oil, and other petroleum products was escalating, and how a family’s heat can be cut off if they get behind in their utility bills. Many families in our area were having to decide between purchasing food and medications or paying their heating bills because they could not afford to do both. These articles stressed how paying heating bills is a problem that arises every winter for people in our community. I felt no one should have to decide between food and heat, and so I created the “Canned Heat” Project. This program involves the recycling of cans to raise funds. I knew that there were discarded cans in places all over our community, and I knew that recycling centers paid money when cans were recycled. I thought that such a project would be beneficial because it would help to clean up our community, it would encourage people to recycle and help the environment, and by generating funds, it would allow me to raise money to help people with their winter heating bills. When the cans are recycled, I give the money that is generated to a local community service organization that helps to meet the needs of low-income families in our regional area. Altogether, through recycling efforts and donations, I raised over $4,500 through “Canned Heat” (before coming to Cornell) to help families with their winter heating bills.
To be honest, I had planned on ceasing to act as the Director of “Canned Heat” when I left my hometown to attend Cornell. I felt that, when I was hundreds of miles away at school, it would be too difficult to coordinate this program. “Canned Heat,” however, had been featured on Nickelodeon–on national television—as a project that was making a difference in its community. Because of this exposure, I added a new dimension to my leadership role, as several people began contacting me about starting up similar programs in their communities and on their high school and college campuses. I was very pleased that my efforts have been able to inspire others, and so I assumed a new leadership role advising people about recycling cans and helping members of their communities.
In addition, when I returned to my hometown, at fall break, Christmas, and spring break, I also found that certain “regular” can contributors had continued to save their cans for me to pick up and recycle. Consequently, during these breaks, I found myself back in the can recycling business. My efforts, this year, have raised approximately $250—and while I know that is not a large amount, I am still proud that the program will be able to benefit a few families in our area and keep them warm and healthy next winter. Even paying the heat for one family, that has six to eight members, can make a big difference in the lives of several people.
I chose to continue applying my skills in the service of “Canned Heat” because of the impact it has on people in my community and for the potential impact it was developing for people in other communities. Locally, it impacted residents in my community by helping them to pay their heating bills and by keeping their heat on during the winter months. It had an impact on their comfort and health. This project also impacted our community by encouraging recycling and by improving the environment.
On a broader scale, “Canned Heat” and programs like it have the potential to help many people in far distant places. Recycling is good for the environment, and it raises community awareness. Through the funds generated, service programs also have the potential to provide benefits to many people in need, and I was intrigued and excited by this prospect. To me personally, public service is valuable service because it enriches the lives of others. When you pursue a public service activity, however, you find that you not only enrich the lives of others, you also enrich your own life.
I started “Canned Heat” during my freshman year of high school, and I have served as the Director of the program ever since. As the leader of this program, I feel it has had a definite impact on my community and has helped many people to spend healthier and warmer winters. On a broader scale, I feel that the exposure “Canned Heat” received from national television has catapulted me, this year, into a new leadership role. I have become an advisor attempting to guide other people and other groups in can recycling—to aid their communities in different ways. It gives me a great sense of pride and pleasure to think that people far away from my area may be receiving help from similar service projects because of the success of “Canned Heat.”
I have been, and remain today, deeply committed to “Canned Heat.” It is difficult to determine exactly how much time I have devoted to this project, but I would estimate approximately 40 to 50 hours this year. I have enjoyed this time because it is extremely rewarding to help people in my community and to try to make their lives a little better. I am proud of this project, the impact it has had, and the difference it has made. I believe it is important to help others and to give back to the community, groups, and people who have nurtured you; that is what being a community is all about. When I talk to other youths about my “Canned Heat” Project, I tell them that if they identify a problem or need in their community, they should get involved and do something about it. I believe it is very important to be involved in your community, and if you reach out to others, you will get involved, and you will also accomplish good things for your community. I tell other young people that if they get involved, it will take some time and effort, but they will get so much out of it.
I believe my involvement with “Canned Heat” has helped me to become a better leader. By designing the program, implementing it, developing and expanding it, and seeing it through to fruition, I have improved my leadership skills. I have been a leader in getting other people involved in the program and in conveying to people the importance of recycling and how they can help their neighbors and the environment by recycling. I have also raised awareness about the needs of members of our community.
I have also acquired many new skills while conducting this project. I have learned to manage my time and responsibilities much more efficiently, and I feel my organizational skills have greatly improved. I have learned to interact with many different people, to listen to diverse opinions, and to make effective decisions. My communication and managerial skills have improved, and I have become more comfortable taking on leadership roles. My work with “Canned Heat” has helped me to be more focused and goal-oriented. As a result of this project, I feel more a part of my community than ever before, and I have enjoyed the goodwill “Canned Heat” has generated. “Canned Heat” has helped my leadership skills evolve locally in my community and now on a broader stage also. It has helped me to mature as a leader.
Above all, as the director of “Canned Heat,” I have learned that the efforts of one person can have a ripple effect that affects the lives of many others. This potential is always there with any leadership position a person holds or with any public service activity with which they become involved. This insight has helped me to become more involved and to become a better leader.
