Prep Students Exceed Service Requirements

When Kennedy High School introduced its University Prep Academy a year ago, community service hours were just one component of a program designed to enhance the chances for Kennedy students to get into top universities.

Emphasis is placed on leadership, extracurricular activities and enrollment in honors classes, in addition to a community service requirement of 10 hours a year.

Those hours turned out to be just a warmup for some. Several of the academy’s 208 students have performed more than 100 service hours this academic year.

“We’re very impressed with some of the student response,” said Karen Ellis, a school counselor and coordinator of the program that was founded by teachers Lynne Lertzman and Sondra Levi Zeldin.

Topping the list is ninth-grader Alma Garcia of Sylmar with 136 hours volunteered at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, mostly at the hospital’s information desk.

“I only planned to work there for a few hours, but I liked it so much I stayed,” said Alma, 15, who now spends nine hours a week at the hospital. She said she eventually hopes to become a pediatrician.

Eleventh-grader Joseph Andreas of Granada Hills, who plans to study musical theater in college, may have gotten an even bigger jump-start on a career. He earned 123 hours in the Granada Theatre’s presentation of “The King and I.”

In his role as head prince Chulongkorn, “I got to work with some talented actors who taught me a few tricks of the trade,” Joseph said.

Ellis said sports and recreation activities, such as the Tri-Valley Special Olympics, are the most popular choice of students, followed by service in the medical field. She said on-campus service projects may be added to the list next year.

Information about University Prep Academy, including applications, can be obtained by contacting Ellis at Kennedy High School at (818) 831-8283.