Lia Abbott, senior at Woodlan Jr. Sr. High was awarded the citizenship award for being a true example of how all people with different abilities should live together in this world.
As a freshmen, Lia watched the special needs class walk the track daily. A couple of students were helped with riding adaptive bikes. Lia, having an aunt with Downs Syndrome, asked the teacher if the class would like to have her Aunts 3-wheeled adult bike since she had just moved to a nursing home. The teachers were thrilled with her generosity and that began Lia’s friendship with the class.
Throughout high school, Lia interned for the class along with befriending a girl in the class who lives in her neighborhood. She took the student out after school and on weekends to do fun high school things with her, that she wouldn’t have had the same experience doing them with her mom.
The summer before Lia’s senior year, Lia had an idea for a “senior project”. She wanted to purchase another bike for the class, as she saw how much enjoyment it gave the students to have the freedom of riding the bike around the track independently. So, she set out to raise money from the community for this purchase. In the fall this school year, Lia brought in this gorgeous 3-wheeled adult Schwinn Bike with a rear basket! The class was overjoyed as were the teachers with this gift of love.
Lia’s heart for our class didn’t stop there, at Christmas time she brought in a garbage can full of gifts for the class. She had collected so much money for the bike, that she had some left over and used it to buy classroom supplies; consisting of a garbage can for the recycling program, new baking supplies for the cookie sales program, kitchen supplies for baking, and arts and crafts supplies for students to enjoy.
Lia Abbott sees the good and potential in all people and she is the epitome of a great Woodlan Citizen!
