Riverwood’s Balser Wins Wilson Award

Riverwood International Charter School senior Dori Balser has received the 2017 Woodrow Wilson Community Service Award from the Princeton Club of Georgia.

The award presentation Tuesday, Oct. 24 — rescheduled from September because of Hurricane Irma — recognizes outstanding service to the community.

Dori is in the International Baccalaureate diploma program and is the student body vice president at the Sandy Springs high school. As one of 16 high school students selected to the Youth Board of the United Way of Greater Atlanta, she plans service projects for Atlanta teens. One example is the annual shoebox project, which collects and distributes shoeboxes filled with necessities to homeless women and children.

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Dori was Riverwood’s 2017 HOBY ambassador, representing the school at the Hugh O’Brian Summer Youth Leadership Conference.

“Service has always been an important part of my life,” Dori said. “I believe that it is our responsibility as humans to be there for other humans in times of need. As teens, we need to value the importance of service and helping other people because we are the future.”

The Princeton Club of Georgia established the Woodrow Wilson Community Service Award in 1985 to honor Atlanta-area students who exemplify the ideals of service and volunteerism espoused by Woodrow Wilson.

“It is such an honor to receive this award,” Dori said. “I hope this inspires people my age to get involved in service. Not only does it help others tremendously, but I have grown so much as a leader and as a person through my service to others.”