BOURNE — Superintendent Kerri Anne Quinlan-Zhou and Principal Christine Borning are pleased to announce this year’s Bourne Middle School Project 351 student ambassador.
As part of the statewide Project 351 youth-led service initiative, BMS eighth grader Madelyn Rossignol will be the school’s ambassador for the year. The initiative brings together one student from each of the 351 communities in Massachusetts for a year’s worth of community service, leadership development and civic engagement.
Founded by Governor Deval Patrick in 2011, Project 351 allows its student ambassadors to develop the skills and confidence to mobilize their schools and communities in various service campaigns. Ambassadors are selected by educators in their community based on their kindness, compassion, humility, gratitude and dedication to helping others.
As part of her role with Project 351, Rossignol will join peers throughout the state in a year-long effort to make their communities a better place by collecting donations and resources for various causes, honoring veterans, volunteering and more.
“Madelyn is one of the sweetest, most polite and respectful kids I’ve worked with. There have been times when she has gone out of her way to talk to and comfort students she sees who are visibly upset,” said music teacher Rebecca Salgado. “She forms connections and relationships with teachers by asking about their day, how their family is doing, and more. She always takes an interest in people and their feelings and is just an overall incredible kid.”
Added seventh grade math teacher Kim Mckanna, “Madelyn is such a hard-working student who is constantly looking for growth opportunities. She is quick to offer ideas and brainstorm when working with others.”
Sixth grade history teacher Catherine Lyons remembers a time when Rossignol showed her a photo of her great-grandmother in full native regalia sitting at Tahanto beach where her family is from, a reminder of her ties with the Wampanoag community.
“The picture stayed with me since it’s not often we see these types of pictures locally,” Lyons said. “It points to how long her family has been connected to the Bourne community and to Madelyn’s spirit of inclusion and acceptance. Madelyn brings diversity and acceptance to the table and I’ve personally seen this through my time working with her.”
Rossignol has always strived to do her best in academics throughout her time at Bourne Middle School, and has been named to the honor roll and earned straight A’s in each of her terms at the school. Outside of the classroom, she has been a member of the BMS girls’ basketball team, girls’ soccer team and girls’ volleyball team.
“I look forward to working alongside many other honorable students to make change for the better in our state,” Rossignol said. “I’m sure I will make many new friendships along the way as well. I am very grateful for being selected to be a part of a program that does so much good making cities and towns in Massachusetts a better place to live.”
Since its inception, more than 3,300 Project 351 ambassadors have served more than 720,000 neighbors through youth-led service campaigns.
About Project 351:
Founded in 2011, Project 351 fosters unity and strengthens the ethic of service through the engagement and enrichment of an eighth-grade ambassador from every city and town in Massachusetts. Annually, ambassadors — who exemplify the values of kindness, compassion, humility, and gratitude — are selected to engage in a transformative year of youth-led service. Project 351 is funded entirely by the private sector and individuals. Its mission is made possible by the generosity and civic engagement of private sector and civic leaders including the Martin Richard Foundation, John Hancock, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Mabel Louise Riley Foundation, Michael T. Carmen and Pamela Lederer, The HYM Investment Group LLC, The Foundation To Be Named Later, Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, and media partner WBZ-TV.
###