Bel Air commissioners honor students for community service

Six local fifth-grade girls were honored for their community service activities by the Bel Air Town Commissioners Monday, giving them a potential push forward on a path to one day running the Town of Bel Air as elected leaders.Bel Air Elementary School students Maggie Donahue, Carrie Ermentrout, her sister, Maggie Ermentrout, Amanda Poling and Korynn Sims, and Red Pump Elementary student Alli McDonald were honored for their work as a team to raise money each year for Harford County community groups, or individuals, by selling their homemade crafts at the Bel Air Festival for the Arts.Mayor Susan Burdette presented a proclamation to each girl during Monday's town meeting to honor of them for earning the town's student achievement award. The award goes to elementary, middle and high school students who attend public and private schools in Bel Air and have demonstrated exceptional achievements in academics, athletics and community service.Burdette also gave a proclamation to Dyann R. Mack, principal of Bel Air Elementary.&quot;The Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners is honored to present the student achievement award to these six girls for dedicating themselves to achieving an excellent work ethic and caring for others,&quot; Burdette said.The mayor noted there are six seats on the dais at Town Hall for Bel Air leaders – five for the commissioners and one for the town administrator.&quot;I think you all accomplished so much as a team, that when you grow a little older and get to an appropriate age to run for office, together all six of you can rule this town,&quot; Burdette said.The girls work on their crafts over the summer and sell them at the arts festival each September. The money raised at this year's festival will go to Ashton's Angels to support people living with AVMs, according to the proclamation.AVMs, or arteriovenous malformation, is a condition that affects the blood vessels in the brain, according to the Mayo Clinic website.Ashton's Angels is named for Ashton Dean, a Bel Air boy who has been living with AVMs since he was 6 months old.&quot;They have worked very, very diligently to earn their award, and we encourage them to continue their commitment to excellence,&quot; Burdette said of the six girls.The mayor also highlighted each girl's individual community service work, in addition to their team fundraising effort.The Ermentrout sisters serve as school safety patrol officers, alter servers at their church and participate in the Bel Air Running Club; Amanda helps set up her church's vacation Bible school and volunteers at children's birthday parties through her dance company.Korynn has maintained the Major's Choice community playground by staining the equipment, weeding and laying mulch, and she packs and delivers Christmas gifts for patients at the Perry Point VA Medical Center in Perryville. Maggie raises money for nonprofits through bake sales and lemonade stands, and she has walked 20 miles in honor of her aunt to raise money for the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life.Alli, a former Bel Air Elementary student who transferred to Red Pump, &quot;continues to help this core group of girls to accomplish these charitable acts of kindness,&quot; Burdette said.Rachael Sims, Korynn's mother, said the girls usually work on their crafts during play dates. She noted that selling the crafts at the arts festival helps them develop self confidence and public speaking skills.&quot;It's a good opportunity for them to not only give back, but it's teaching them to approach people,&quot; Sims said.

Bel Air commissioners honor students for community service

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