Gena Tussey Station House Photography is showcasing three young individuals in the Best of Blount Project for being involved not only in their communities but around the world to extend their hands, hearts and talents to make the future of the world we will all live in.
These three wonderful people were chosen this year to be the ambassadors for Station House Photography to our area of East Tennessee for their charitable and philanthropic outreach to others.
I hope that in the near future, Station House Photography can grow this project to include more likeminded individuals so that fundraising projects can be created to help these young people’s dreams for their world.
Ryan Kirst is 15 years old and an 8th grader at Carpenters Middle School. His hobbies included sports, music, singing, coaching, air soft guns, and yo-yoing. Ryan spends a big part of his life volunteering in many capacities. He coaches a grasshopper football team, has coached and referred for upward basketball, sings in a youth choir at church which goes on a mission trip every year being songs of hope and praise to people, helps with the John 3:16 ministry with light maintaince and yard work and working at food pantries, he has been a peer coach at school, in student council and helps with children’s church.
Ryan was awarded the “Prudential Spirit of Community Award”. It is given to one high school and one middle school in every state for their volunteer and community service. He and his family went to Washington DC for an awards ceremony with 101 other Honorees. He was awarded $1000 and a silver medallion.
Ryan was born with a congenital heart defect and had open heart surgery at 6 days old. He recovered well and was even able to play sports for many years. After playing football for 6 years and at the age of 14 he found out he was no longer able to play contact sports. This was difficult for him, but he did not feel sorry for himself, he saw it as an opportunity to be involved as a coach. Ryan sees this as a great opportunity to be a part of a game Ryan loves very much the game and all it has taught him many life skills and now he can pass those down to others.
Hannah Rader is 16 years old, in the 11th grade and feels so blessed to be homeschooled. She takes classes at Thursday Connections co-op and also at Pellissippi State Community College and carries a 3.9 GPA. She credits her faith and family in all that she does.
Hannah attends Fairview United Methodist Church and is a member in the Youth Choir and the Praise Dance team. Having a passion for working with children with Special Needs, having helped not only in her church but in school settings as well. Working with these children helped prepare Hannah with a special gift to help others including her sister Molly, who has Down’s Syndrome.
Hannah has also developed the project “Gifts for Ghana”. She collects Christmas presents to send to the children in orphanages in Ghana. As these children have no way of receiving Christmas presents each year, Hannah along with the help of her church and some homeschool friends, were able to send 200 Ziploc bags filled with goodies in 2012 and then 300 bags in 2013. They were also able to help provide a party for the children with refreshments! This is such a wonderful cause to help “pay it forward” and all donations are appreciated!
Mindy Dawn Reagan is a junior at William Blount High School. She is the daughter of Tony and Dawn Reagan.
She is in French Honor Society, a member of William Blount singers, and attends Fairview United Methodist Church. Mindy loves to sing and perform. She sings with the William Blount Singers, youth choir, and adult choirs at church. She was selected for All-East and All State during her junior year. She loves to do for others and loves working with children in any possible venue.