Carol Wagner, Leader Correspondent
Photo by Curt Knoke Gabriela Krueger enjoys time spent with her Little Sister, McKenzie, in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Gabriela is the recipient of the Shawano Area Community Foundation Youth Volunteer Award for volunteer work at school and in the community.
Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of five articles profiling winners of the Celebration of Giving awards presented annually by Shawano Area Community Foundation Inc. for outstanding volunteerism. The winners will be honored at a gala April 12.
Garbriela Krueger, 18, a senior at Shawano Community High School, has been selected to receive the Shawano Area Community Foundation Youth Volunteer Award. She has volunteered for activities in school and in the community.
“It was quite a surprise to me,” she said. “I didn’t know I was nominated. It’s an amazing honor. I think it’s incredible. I was speechless and I cried when I found out.”
Carol Krueger is understandably very proud of her granddaughter.
“She has always seized every opportunity to volunteer without hesitation,” she wrote in a nomination letter for the award. “I am biased, but in my 80-plus years of life, I have never met anyone who gives so much of herself at such a young age.”
All that she does is important to Gabriela, but helping Big Brothers Big Sisters is especially important to her. She started this past year with her “Little,” McKenzie. Gabriela wanted to show her how important she is and to make her feel special.
“I can see a change in the little girl,” Gabriela said. “It’s incredible to me.”
When Gabriela graduates in June, she is going to college at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She wants to keep in contact with McKenzie and carry on their friendship.
“I’ve grown really close to my little sister,” she said.
At school, Gabriela is on student council, where she helps with blood drives, pep rallies and other fun activities.
“There is so much to do,” she said. “You develop relationships with those you wouldn’t get to know.”
She is a member of the Science Society and the Med Maniacs, which sometimes provides hands-on medical learning experiences. Recently students from UW-Madison Medical School shared human hearts, livers and a brain with the Maniacs. Gabriela plans to study pediatrics or pharmacy in college.
She is also a member of the National Honor Society, which means more volunteer hours at school functions, along with keeping good grades.
Gabriela helps at the registration table at the high school blood drives.
“It’s cool how many people want to try to help,” she said.
She is a member of Bridge to Success, a mentor program for incoming freshmen.
“I let them know that they have someone to talk to,” Gabriela said.
She is a member of the Spanish Club and helps with Shawano Hockey.
Gabriela’s English teacher, Jaimie Okusko, also nominated her for the SACF award. She wrote: “I have always been greatly impressed with her work ethic and dedication to the task at hand. I can honestly say that I have worked with few adults who show the kind of maturity that I have seen in this young lady.”
Okusko noted how as a sophomore Gabriela helped other members of her English class who were struggling by just stepping in to quietly give assistance, treating them with dignity and respect.
Outside of school, Gabriela helps the Optimist Club with its bike rodeo, Pure Essence with its walk/run and Taste of Shawano with ticket sales. She has helped clean up highways and rang bells at Christmas for the Salvation Army.
A member of Zion Lutheran Church in Shawano, she helps with Sunday School.
Being involved in so many different activities has given Gabriela perspective on how to handle her time.
“I just prioritize,” Gabriela said. “It’s good to have learned early on.”
Gabriela is the daughter of Jay and Rhonda Krueger. She works at Dreier Pharmacy three or four times a week.
She will give her award of $1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The Youth Volunteer Award is sponsored by the Shawano Optimist Club and Shawano Rotary.