VIPS Falmouth High School Student Volunteer of the Month

For several years, Falmouth VIPS has featured a Student Volunteer of the Month at Falmouth High School. This program was started with a grant from the Falmouth Education Foundation to acknowledge and celebrate students who share their time with community and school causes. The only requirement is that students must log their hours with VIPS. There is no minimum number of hours, but past recipients have a variety of causes and activities on their list.

Our FHS Student Volunteers of the Month for the 2023-24 Academic Year

Lauryn McGann

Lauryn, an AP scholar, is a member of the National Honors Society, Science National Honors Society, and the National Math Honors Society. She was named a Falmouth Public Library Science Student in 2022 and earned a Woodwell Climate Research Center Science Storytelling Award in 2023. Lauryn is a member of the FHS Theatre Company, the FHS Ecology Club, the FHS Math Team and a member of the Falmouth Town Band. She serves as a peer tutor at Lawrence for math and science. At school and in the community, Lauryn volunteers with outdoor and environmental education opportunities, including many hours at Spohr Gardens Butterfly Garden. She worked with the FHS Miniboat Project, the Falmouth Public Schools Earth Day Celebration, and the Rotary Club of Falmouth’s Day of Play. She also provided childcare for the East Falmouth PTO meetings.
 Lauryn says volunteering has helped her connect with others in the community in ways she is extremely grateful for. A volunteering experience that has had special meaning for her is the FHS Miniboat Project, a “group endeavor that involved fixing up small autonomous boats in order to track their paths and compare those paths to the potential paths of cold-stunned turtles.” The project provided Lauryn and her fellow students with an opportunity to participate in a large scale, hands on science project. As an aspiring scientist, Lauryn says the project was “invaluable as I got to see what it was like to work every day with a team of other committed students and get results that we worked for over 35 hours to achieve." Lauren is the daughter of Michele and Scott McGann of East Falmouth.

... and our recently featured Falmouth High School student volunteers:

Coming Soon:  June

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Harry Bourgoin:  February

At FHS, Harry played Varsity Football, earning a Cape & Islands League All-Star award and the Edward Marks Unsung Hero Award. Harry is a member of the high school Latin Club and is serving as a Peer Mentor this year. He has volunteered with the FHS Staff Welcome setup, the FHS Wellness Center setup, and volunteered at the Powder Puff event, Junior Class Work Day. He has also volunteered for PTO events at Teaticket Elementary. 
In the community, Harrison has volunteered for Falmouth Road Race, helped set up the Falmouth Rotary Craft Fair, and volunteers his time providing landscaping services through Rose Lawn Care, as well as volunteering for Chapman Funerals and Cremations. Harry is the son of John Bourgoin of West Falmouth and Christina Wilson.

Coming Soon:  May

Ian is a FHS Top Ten ranked student and has earned a cumulative 3.99 GPA award. Ian is a member of the National Honors Society, Science National Honors Society, Spanish National Honors Society, and the National Music Honors Society. Ian won a Tufts University Book Award, a Biliteracy Achievement Award, and 2nd place at the FHS Science Fair. Ian serves as a peer tutor, volunteered at the Science Fair, and Junior Class Work Day. Ian also participates in athletics as a two-year member of FHS Winter Track (coach’s award) and Spring Track (league honorable mention), a 4-year member of the FHS Boys Soccer team, and a one-year member of the FHS Boys Tennis team (coach’s award). An alto saxophone player, Ian has been a 4-year member of the FHS Band Program, receiving an All-Cape Recommendation, and for three years has played in the Jazz Band. Ian has volunteered with band and sports team events, including the Falmouth Road Race and Cape Cod Marathon as well as the Christmas Tree pickup. Ian is the son of Alison and Ted Maksym of East Falmouth.

Maddie Sabens:  January

At FHS, Maddie is a member of the National Honors Society and National Art Honors Society (vice-president), and FHS Student Government. Maddie has received many honors for her ceramics work, including a 2022 Falmouth Public Library Book Award, a Silver Key Award from the 2022 MA State Scholastic Art and Writing competition, and a President’s Choice Award from the MA Art Educators Association. In addition, her work has been featured in the FHS publication The Shoal and has been displayed at the Cape Cod Art Center. Maddie is a dancer with the Turning Pointe Dance Studio, performing in numerous venues. She volunteers for many PTO events at Mullen-Hall Elementary, serves as a chemistry peer tutor, Falmouth Road Race, and Falmouth Running Club. She is the daughter of Danielle and Henry Sabens of East Falmouth.

Elizabeth Litton:  March

Elizabeth has earned a cumulative 4.0 GPA award, won an AP Scholar with Honor Award, the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, a University of Notre Dame Book Award, the Society of Women Engineers Recognition for Excellence in Science, and a Falmouth Rotary Club Youth Merit Award. She is a FHS Top 10 ranked student and received the No Guff Award in 2021. Elizabeth founded the FHS Women in STEM Club and serves as its president. She is president of the FHS National French Honors Society, and a member of the National Honors Society and the National Math Honors Society. She is a member of the FHS Hiking Club and completed the 100 Mile Wilderness, a section of the Appalachian Trail. Elizabeth is an FHS Peer Mentor and a peer tutor. Elizabeth volunteered to help rebuild a hiker’s shelter in the White Mountains through American Youth Foundation, volunteered for Sunny Paws Dog Rescue, the Falmouth Road Race, and the First Congregational Church of Falmouth. She is the daughter of Diane and Nicholas Litton of Falmouth.

Joseph Simpkins:  December

Joseph is a member of the FHS Cross Country, Track and Sailing teams, the National Honors Society, the Math Honors Society, and the Music Honors Society. He has earned many academic honors:  a commendation for the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program, AP Scholar with Honor, 2022 Rotary Club of Falmouth Youth Merit Award, a 2022 Trustees of the Falmouth Public Library Book Award in Math, a 2022 Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award, and 2020 and 2022 2nd place honors at the Falmouth Science & Engineering Fair. Joseph has volunteered for the Falmouth Road Race, the Cape Cod Marathon, the American Lung Association, peer tutoring, and Junior Class Work Day. He is the son of Grace and Mike Simpkins of East Falmouth.

Katie Shanahan:  September

Corey Martin:  October

Amena Weiffenbach:  November

Katie serves as secretary for the Class of 2023.  Katie is a member of 3 Varsity teams:  Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, and Golf, earning Captain honors for all three. Katie has earned numerous awards for scholastics and athletics at the league level as well as the state level for both Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-scholastic teams for all. She is a member of National Honors Society, National Art Honors Society (serving as treasurer), and Mu Alpha Theta Honors Society. She has made the FHS Honor Roll since she was a freshman. Katie volunteers for Falmouth Road Race, events at Teaticket Elementary School including PE classes, ice cream socials, art shows, and field days. She is also volunteer with the Falmouth Field Hockey youth clinics. Katie is the daughter of Carrie and Chris Shanahan of East Falmouth.

Corey is a member and student representative for the Class of 2023. He is a 4-year member of the FHS Honor Roll and a member of the FHS Culinary Advisory Board. Corey has played soccer all four years and earned a sportsmanship award for the Cape and Islands League. He is a member of the local amateur boxing club, Salty Dog Boxing. For many years, Corey was a competitive gymnast and earned a first-place award at a USA Gymnastics event in Las Vegas. Corey volunteers for the Falmouth Road Race, the Seagull 6 Road Race, the VIPS Elementary Track Meet, and served as a Falmouth Rec Center Summer Camp junior counselor. Corey is the son of Gail Corey and Kyle Martin of East Falmouth.

Amena is a member of the FHS Class of 2023. She serves as co-president of the FHS Gifford Street Writers, the creative writing club. She is also a member of the Math Team and the Women in STEM Club. Amena has made High Honor Roll at FHS since her freshman year. She is a member of the National Honors Society and Spanish Honors Society. Amena volunteers at the Falmouth Dog Park and at the Falmouth Congregational Church's summer daycare program where she taught children Spanish. She also serves as a math tutor and volunteered to rake lawns. Amena is the daughter of Chaminaa and Paul Weiffenbach of Falmouth. 

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Student Volunteer Opportunities with Local Organizations

The following organizations have expressed an interest in student volunteers. Please note that some have age restrictions and may require training, references and/or interviews. 
300 Committee (Falmouth’s Land Trust)
Occasional opportunities for students interested in pursuing an environmental or conservation-related project. saveland@300committee.org, (508) 540-0876.
 
A Place at the Table (St. Barnabas Church)
Tuesdays (year round), 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Help with food preparation, greet guests. (508) 548-3863, or email Becky Vaus at becky@stbsfalmouth.org

Atria at Woodbriar
339 Gifford St., Ages 16+ to help transport wheelchair patients to dining room from 4:45-6 p.m. Students who can provide musical entertainment (piano on premises) for residents before or after dinner, play checkers, tape stories of veterans, etc. (508) 444-0340, Lynn or Jacqui Emrich, jacqueline.emrich@atriaseniorliving.com
 
Cape Cod Children’s Museum
Ages 15+, school vacation help, other tasks. info@capecodchildrensmuseum.org, (508) 539-8788, Lisa Bates.

Challenger Club of Cape Cod
Mission is to enrich the quality of life for children and young adults with physical and/or developmental disabilities by providing them with opportunity to participate in a variety of athletic, recreational and social activities. www.capecodchallenger.org, info@capecodchallenger.org. (508) 420-6950, x 1136.

Falmouth Community Television (FCTV)
Internship and volunteer opportunities, Youth Producers Club (Tuesdays, 3-5 pm) provides training in video production, running a camera, directing a live show, and editing through hands-on projects with instruction. Allen Russell, allen@fctv.org, (508) 457-0800.
 
Falmouth Dog Park
Information and online form available at falmouthdogpark.com/volunteer or call (508) 331-2929.

Falmouth Hospital
Ages 15-17, summer only. Completion of training program (June) required; work on clinical floors, in dietary dept., deliver mail and flowers, special projects. Age 18+, additional opportunities available including emergency dept. shanley@capecodhealth.org, (508) 457-3521, Susan Hanley

Falmouth Recreation Center
Help coach sports teams, help students with homework, join teen council, work with other teens to promote teen center activities, etc. (508) 457-2567, ext. 216, Joe Olenick, joe.olenick@falmouthma.gov
 
Falmouth Senior Center
Student opportunities include computer support (assisting seniors using laptops, iPads, cell phones, etc.); snow shoveling (shoveling driveways and walkways of seniors); and marketing assistance. Jill Irving Bishop, director, jill.bishop@falmouthma.gov, (508) 540-0196.

Falmouth Volunteers in Public Schools
Many opportunities available within the Falmouth school system including homework help, tutoring, music/art/phys ed assistance, after school programs, mentoring, etc. VIPS will match your interests, skills & schedule with a need. (508) 548-1621, vips@falmouth.k12.ma.us.
 
Friends of Falmouth Bikeways
Help count bikers, path cleanup and maintenance. Falmouth.bikers@yahoo.com.
 
Neighborhood Falmouth
Help seniors stay in their homes by assisting with moving furniture, light housekeeping, etc.  (508) 564-7543,  director@neighborhoodfalmouth.org/forms.html

People for Cats
Students 16+; help socializing the cats which involves grooming and play time. info@peopleforcats.org, (508) 540-5654, Joan King

Saint Joseph Guardian of the Holy Family
Main St, Falmouth. Help with Faith Formation classes. (508) 548-3515, Jonathan Galo, jgalo@falmouthcatholic.org

Together We Can
High school students to assist with a myriad of local projects:  dog park, teen center, etc. Every January, they begin planning to the after prom party and always need help. (508) 274-0505, info@falmouthtogetherwecan.org