By: Kristen Jadin, NYSPHSAA Assistant Director
Latham, NY - The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) announces the Wellington C. Mepham High School Leo Club as the winner of the Spring 2026 NYSPHSAA Community Service Challenge. The club’s service initiative supporting hospitalized children through the Little Saint Nick Foundation was selected by the NYSPHSAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for its outstanding impact, compassion and student engagement.
Schools across the state submitted their initiatives through the Team Up 4 Community platform, which NYSPHSAA uses to highlight community service projects led by student-athletes and school communities.
The Wellington C. Mepham High School Leo Club, which includes numerous NYSPHSAA student-athletes, organized a six-week donation drive to create and assemble "anti-anxiety bags" for pediatric patients facing hospital visits and medical treatments. Students collected items including stuffed animals, coloring books, crayons, fidget toys, blankets and handwritten cards of encouragement to provide comfort and emotional support to children during difficult moments.
Inspired by a partnership with the Little Saint Nick Foundation, Leo Club members worked collaboratively to organize donations, promote the initiative throughout the school community, and assemble each bag for distribution to local hospitals and emergency rooms.
"Our students embraced this project with compassion and a genuine desire to help others," said Neeru Partap, Leo Club Advisor. "It was inspiring to see them come together to make a positive difference in their community."
Students involved in the project say the experience highlighted the importance of service and the difference small acts of kindness can make for children and families facing medical challenges.
“Working with the Little Saint Nick Foundation has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Alexis Skreckoski, Mepham Leo Club Vice President. “Seeing our Leo Club members come together to bring comfort and joy to hospitalized children showed the impact we can make when we work toward something bigger than ourselves."
“The dedication demonstrated by the student leaders and volunteers at Wellington C. Mepham High School truly represents the mission of NYSPHSAA and the Community Service Challenge,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, Executive Director of NYSPHSAA. “Their commitment to helping hospitalized children through compassion and service is inspiring and reflects the positive impact student-athletes continue to make in communities across New York State.”
During the Spring 2026 Community Service Challenge, a total of 185 service projects were submitted, engaging 12,517 student-athletes across New York State. Collectively, participants contributed more than 76,850 volunteer hours and helped raise an impressive $258,705 for charitable causes and community organizations statewide.
To date, the 2025-26 school year has seen tremendous participation in community service initiatives across NYSPHSAA member schools. A total of 696 service projects were submitted, with student-athletes contributing more than 211,086 volunteer hours, involving 40,717 student-athletes, and raising an outstanding $816,398 for charitable causes throughout New York State.
The NYSPHSAA Community Service Challenge will continue into the 2026-27 school year as schools across the state work together to create meaningful change through service and leadership.
For more information about NYSPHSAA’s Community Service Challenge, please visit www.nysphsaa.org.