For years, Abby Jaeger has been giving back to her community, throwing herself into the numerous groups for which she is involved.
Jaeger has always been too busy to recognize the difference she is making in the lives of others, her “can-do” attitude and spirit of giving coming naturally. But many have taken notice, particularly her teachers at Boyertown Senior High, and thanks to her unyielding willingness to participate and give back, Jaeger is being recognized as this year’s Boyertown Student of the Year.
“I was honestly shocked,” the Boyertown senior admits, when asked about receiving this year’s honor. “I was honestly just go, go, go, and I never thought my hard work would be recognized. It’s a great feeling, it really is.”
Jaeger, who will be 18 on May 11, credits her parents, John and Debbie, for her spirit of volunteerism. “My parents have always been extremely supportive of anything I’ve wanted to do,” she said. “They definitely pushed me toward volunteering.”
“My mom tried to drill this into me at a young age, that I should put my time and effort into things that will make things better,” she said. “I grew up that way … my mom always encouraged me to think of others beside myself.”
A member of the girls’ field hockey and lacrosse teams, Jaeger serves as treasurer of Boyertown High’s National Honor Society. In that capacity, she has volunteered at Hickory Park and for the BBB-sponsored Oktoberfest, and also recently chaired the NHS’s alumni tea. Jaeger also volunteers for the Special Olympics at the Boyertown YMCA, is involved in student council and volunteers for Pottstown’s Relay for Life.
Along with her parents, Jaeger credits her NHS advisor, Ms. Jamison Renfro, for her successes. “I never would have thought of myself as outstanding – I never would have picked myself out of a crowd,” Jaeger said. “It means a lot that she has that much faith in me and that she would put my name in for this honor.”
Jaeger loves to travel, and sees herself leaving her beloved Boyertown to attend college. “I like the idea of starting a life anew somewhere,” she says. She is planning on attending either Clemson or Virginia Tech to major in biochemistry, and thinks she may eventually go on to study pharmacology.
A member of Calvary UCC, Jaeger currently lives at home with her parents and a brother, John Miller. She plans to spend her summer volunteering and getting ready for college.
