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Two Girard College Juniors Honored with Union League Good Citizenship Award
Curtis Goines ’23 and Jaelyn Handy ’23 were selected to participate in the 76th annual Good Citizen Day in recognition of their active engagement in the school community.
Albert El, Chaplain of American Legion Post 405, with Curtis and Jaelyn after the Good Citizenship Award ceremony.
On April 6, 2022, Girard College juniors Curtis and Jaelyn participated in the annual Good Citizen Day at The Union League of Philadelphia, where they connected with nearly 250 student leaders from throughout the Greater Philadelphia region to discuss and debate current topics of interest. During an evening ceremony, students were presented with the Good Citizenship Award from The Union League Legacy Foundation.
Curtis and Jaelyn were accompanied to the ceremony by Chris Horne, Director of College Counseling and Alumni Support, and Erica Perez, College and Career Advisor.
“Curtis and Jaelyn are the definition of engaged citizens,” said Horne. “They have each demonstrated a commitment to serve their community through hard work, critical thinking, and honest collaboration with their classmates and teachers.”
Curtis recently spent a semester in Idaho and Chile as part of a study abroad experience through the Alzar School, and last year Jaelyn was named an outstanding student delegate during a summit of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia.
“It was a very rewarding experience to participate in Good Citizen Day,” said Jaelyn. “Connecting with students from other schools gave me so many good ideas that I can bring back to Girard.”
“We’re both really honored to receive this award,” Curtis added. “It was a special night. Thank you to The Union League Legacy Foundation for this recognition.”
Good Citizen Day began in 1946 as a way to celebrate student leaders who demonstrated good citizenship and active engagement in their community. In 2019, The Union League Legacy Foundation was founded to encompass the three long-standing Foundations of the Union League — the Youth Work, Scholarship, and Abraham Lincoln Foundations.
Girard College has been proud to nominate many students over the years who embrace the rights and responsibilities that are guaranteed in the United States Constitution.
