Action Team Scholarship Winners Bask in the Spotlight

During Volunteer Appreciation Week, the Players Trust awarded scholarships to 20 high school students from across the country who distinguished themselves in their service with the  Action Team national volunteer program.

The  Action Team captains were given $2,000 scholarships in recognition of their dedication to community service and efforts to involve others. Many of the scholarship recipients also received accolades from their local media and community organizations.

Rykyer Wakeley from Glacier Peak High School in Seattle, Wash., was  one of the captains recognized for his commitment to serving his community on behalf of the local Volunteers of America Western Washington affiliate (VOAWW).

“The more that I got involved in the Action Team the more I got interested in volunteering and it just took off,” Wakeley told local NBC affiliate K5’s news program New Day.

A prominent supporter of the program, Wakeley was also honored with the award of Youth Volunteer of the Year from VOAWW.

During  the 2014-2015 school year, Wakeley participated in events such as disassembling bicycles with Bicycles for Humanity and VOA’s “Stuff a Bus” toy donation program.  He plans to attend the University of Washington in the fall.

The Los Angeles Times reported that captains Sasank Chaganty and Blake Sperling  from El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills had received 2015 Action Team Scholarships.

Last fall, captains from the El Camino Action Team were presented with a letter of commendation from Los Angeles County for their monthly commitment to cleaning up Woolsey Canyon-you can read more here.

Sperling, the founder of ECR Action Team, has grown the program from five active captains to a club with 25 participants.

Sperling and his fellow Action Team captains have dedicated the second Saturday of each month during the school year to cleaning Woolsey Canyon, attracting some volunteer help from two Major Leaguers on one off-season trip to the canyon.

For more information on the Action Team or to join our team please visit www.actionteam.org